Surname Johannsmeier - Meaning and Origin

Johannsmeier: What does the surname Johannsmeier mean?

The last name Johannsmeier originates from Germany and is derived from the personal name Johans, which was a shortened form of Johannes, the German equivalent of John. It was given to individuals born in or around the feast day of the German church St. John the Baptist, which was June 24th. Over time, Johans eventually began taking the surname Johannsmeier.

The literal meaning of Johannsmeier is “son of John.” Thus, Johannsmeier implies a direct paternal lineage to the name John. In Germany, the surname was popular in Bavaria, and specifically in the lower Main and upper Franconian area. Today, there are still many individuals with the surname Johannsmeier living in these areas.

Johannsmeier is a quite common surname. A variant of the surname Johannsmeier is Johannesmeier. Over time, surname variants have also been created such as Johansen, Johannson, Johanning, Johanser, Johanninger, and many more.

Johannsmeier has been a popular last name throughout its history and today it is still found in many areas throughout Europe and the US. It is associated with a past of familial ties to one of the most popular German names, John.

Johannsmeier: Where does the name Johannsmeier come from?

Johannsmeier is a German surname, most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries. Within Germany, the highest concentrations of the Johannsmeier name are found in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, followed by Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name is also commonly found in the United States, Canada, and countries that have a large German population, including Brazil and Argentina.

In the US, the name is found most frequently in Pennsylvania, followed by New York, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The majority of those bearing the Johannsmeier name in the United States are descended from German immigrants who arrived in the 19th century and settled in the country's central regions.

Outside of German-speaking countries, the name is also found in some Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden and Denmark. In the United Kingdom, the name can be found in small numbers, but due to its German origin, it was sometimes Anglicized to Johnson or Johnston.

Variations of the surname Johannsmeier

The surname Johannsmeier originated in Germany and is derived from the personal name Johann with the suffix –meier or –mayer, which literally translates to "major". Johannsmeier is a patronymic surname, meaning it was first used to refer to the son or descendant of a man named Johann. As a result, spellings and variants of this surname exist in many languages, connecting through the original German, Johannsmeier.

In German, the surname is most commonly spelled Johannsmeier or simply Meier. Variants of the name include Johansmeier, Johannsmayer, Johannesmeyer, and Johannenmeier. Other German versions are recorded as Johanmeyer, Johanmeyer, JOhannsmayr, andYonemeyer. Dutch variations are Johannmaer, Johannsmaer, and Jansmaer.

In English, the name is commonly spelled Johnsmeyer or Johnsonmeyer, depending on the location and time period. In France, the name is often spelled Jeanmaire. In Scandinavia, Johannsmeier typically appears as Johanssonmayer, while in Austria and Switzerland it is commonly spelled Johannsmayer.

Variations of this surname can be found in other languages as well, such as Español, Português, Italiano, and русский. Regardless of how Johannsmeier is spelled, it references the same original patronymic surname and connects all the variants together.

Famous people with the name Johannsmeier

• Friedrich Johannsenmeier-Liebenthal, a Prussian nobleman and statesman of the German Empire.
• Johann Heinrich Johannsemenmeier, a Prussian naturalist.
• Johannsmeier Helle, a German architect and master builder.
• Paul Johannsmeier, an East German figure skater.
• Klaus Johannsmeier, a German businessman and former CEO of Daimler AG.
• Leopold Johannsmeier, a German geographer and explorer.
• Hermann Johannsmeier, a German artist and sculptor.
• Hans-Friedrich Johannsmeier, a former Vice President of the International Court of Justice.
• Michael Johannsmeier, a retired German footballer.
• Friedrich Carl Johannsmeier, a Prussian courtier and minister of war.

Other surnames

Johannsmeyer