Surname Echtermeyer - Meaning and Origin

Echtermeyer: What does the surname Echtermeyer mean?

The last name Echtermeyer is of German origin. It is composed of two elements: "echter" and "meyer". The latter is a common German patronymic name stemming from the medieval German given name "Meier" or "Meir". This word literally translates to “master", and was typically used as an honorific for someone of high social standing in the Middle Ages.

The “echter” element of the surname is derived from the old Germanic word “ugihte”, meaning “freedom” or “liberty”. The combination of these two elements produces the literal meaning of the surname as “the freeman Meier". This was probably used to indicate someone who was of superior social status and independence within his community or lineage. It is likely a name reflecting nobility or high social standing, such as a local lord or landholder.

The surname Echtermeyer is quite rare, particularly outside of Germany. Notable people with that surname include Wilhelm Echtermeyer, a German theologian and philologist, and Gottfried Echtermeyer, a German realist painter. The name’s legacy likely lives on in its reflection of a tangible mark of social superiority within its respective German communities.

Echtermeyer: Where does the name Echtermeyer come from?

The last name Echtermeyer is most commonly found in Germany today. The name is derived from Middle High German and is possibly of origin in the Rhine-Main region, although other theories about the origin of the name have been suggested.

In Germany, the name is quite popular in states such as Hesse, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. According to the database of the German Genealogy Project, the name Echtermeyer can be found in more than 500 German municipalities.

The name is also common in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries are more likely to have Echtermeyer residents due to the large number of German immigrants during the 19th century. However, compared to Germany the number of surnames per capita is much lower.

Overall, the last name Echtermeyer is most commonly found in Germany today, although it is also quite widespread in other countries due to migration. It is thought to have originated in the Rhine-Main region and can be found in more than 500 German municipalities as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Echtermeyer

The surname Echtermeyer is a German surname that likely originated from the Middle German word “etermeer” which means “outer lake”. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Echtermeyer are as follows:

Variants:

Ektermeyer, Ektermeer, Ectermeyer, Ectermeer, Ektermyer.

Spellings:

Echtmeer, Echtmeyer, Ectermeyr, Ettermer, Ettermeer.

Surnames:

Atermeyer, Atermyer, Atermeyr, Atermer, Atermeer, Ettermyer, Ochtermeyer, Ochtermyer, Ochtermeyr and Ochtermer.

The variants, spellings and surnames for the surname Echtermeyer are all derived from the Middle German word “etermeer” which translate to “outer lake”. This suggests that the Echtermeyer surname may have been derived from someone who lived near a lake. It is likely that people with the surname Echtermeyer had their origins near Germany or from other German-speaking countries.

The different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of the Echtermeyer surname are evidence of the history of this surname and how it has adapted through time and across borders. It is likely that many of the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin have diverged further due to immigration, assimilation, and other factors. This is likely to be true for many other surnames as well.

Famous people with the name Echtermeyer

• Joe Echtermeyer: Radio announcer on 92.7 FM WXLK's morning show The Woody & Wilcox Show, based in Roanoke, VA.
• Arne Echtermeyer: German ice hockey player who competed in the 1936 Winter Olympics.
• Alban Echtermeyer: German sculptor and painter who studied at the Berlin State Academy of Arts and the Berlin City Art School.
• Joke Echtermeyer: Dutch sculptor and painter from The Hague.
• Victor Echtermeyer: German painter from Berlin, best known for his romantic landscapes and portraits.
• Dominik Echtermeyer: German filmmaker who was one of the first German directors to specialize in low-budget comedy movies.
• Willy Echtermeyer: German sports writer, journalist and novelist from Berlin.
• Heinrich Echtermeyer: German officer and soldier of fortune who served in a variety of positions in Europe and the US during the 1800s.
• Charles August Echtermeyer: German-born American sculptor of monuments, portraits, and medallic art.
• Henry Echtermeyer: German-born American photographer and photojournalist, also known for creating the iconic leather-bound Echtermeyer cases.

Other surnames

Echtermeier