Surname Forstmair - Meaning and Origin
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Forstmair: What does the surname Forstmair mean?
The last name Forstmair is of German origin and is a very common surname across Central Europe and the United States. The literal translation of the name from German is “Forest Mayor” and historically it was used to denote a person who was appointed as the ruler or administrator of a royal forest.
The name first appeared in the late 13th century and was most commonly found in Southern Germany. Over time, it became more widespread and spread to adjacent areas such as South and Central Europe. It also spread to the United States during the 19th century when German immigrants began to arrive.
The surname is derived from the Middle High German word “forst” and “mâer” and translates to “forest” and “magistrate” respectively. It was used to designate the appointed ruler or guardian of the various royal forests located throughout medieval Germany.
As the name became more widespread, it began to be used as an occupational designation rather than an occupational title. Today, Forstmair is still a very common name, especially in Central Europe. It is also popular among German-American families in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisForstmair: Where does the name Forstmair come from?
The last name Forstmair is most commonly found today in areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to have been derived from the Old German word “Forst” which means “forest” or “woodland” and the word “mair” which translates to “mayor”. This suggests that the first Forstmair ancestor was likely a mayor of a village or town located near a forest.
The popularity of the last name has varied throughout the years, but some areas have seen greater concentrations of the Forstmair family than others. The town of Augsburg, located in southern Bavaria, Germany is one example. In the 19th century, the small Bavarian enclave was home to a significant population of the Forstmair family.
The last name Forstmair is still found in small numbers across many of the same areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as before. Additionally, in more recent decades, the last name has spread to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. No longer concentrated in one region, people bearing the last name Forstmair can now be found around the world.
Variations of the surname Forstmair
The variants and spellings of the surname Forstmair are Forsmair, Foerstmaier, Foerstmair, Foerstmaer, Foerstmeyer, Foersmaer, Foersmeyer, Foorsmaer, Fostmaer, Fostmair, and Foustmaer. Variant spellings of the surname originate from English and German roots, with the original name being derived from the Middle High German “vorsteher” which means “bailliff” or “overseer”. Forstmair is a German and English surname and is primarily found in Germany and the United States.
Surnames which share the same origin as Forstmair are Forster, Foerster, Vörster, Förster, Försmair, Förster, Voerster, Forster, Forster, Forestier, Foerstel, Foerstmeier, and Foertmeier. All of these names originate from the Middle High German “vorsteher” and are equivalent to the English word “overseer”. These surnames are all found throughout Germany, as well as in many parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Forstmair is also commonly spelled Forster and is derived from the Germanic word “Forst”, which means “forest.” It is believed that this surname was originally given to people who lived and worked in forests, such as foresters and hunters. Variant spellings of this surname are Forrest, Foster, Forrester, Forest, Fosters, and Forresters. These names are all primarily found in Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Famous people with the name Forstmair
- Franz Forstmair: Austrian former alpine skier who competed at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
- Ralf Forstmair: German former professional footballer.
- Herbert Forstmair: Austrian luger who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Johann Forstmair: Austrian shot putter.
- Walter Forstmair: Austrian composer of film scores, best known for his score to the 1974 film Die Rechnung: eiskalt serviert.
- Gustav Forstmair: German long-distance running specialist who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Francesco Forstmair: Italian ski-mountaineer and former military patrol racer.
- Arthur Forstmair: Austrian former alpine skier.
- Andreas Forstmair: Austrian footballer and manager who played for a number of teams in the Austrian Football Bundesliga.
- Paul Forstmair: German actor who has appeared in more than 60 films and television shows since 1991.