Surname Jungmaier - Meaning and Origin

Jungmaier: What does the surname Jungmaier mean?

The last name Jungmaier is a German occupational or toponymic surname, coming from the Middle High German word "junkemair" and the Old German words "jung" and "mair". The name literally translates to "young mayor". In Germanic culture, this name was originally associated with someone who held a position of responsibility or authority in a village or community, such as a mayor, leader, elder, or counselman. It was not until the modern era that the name became more closely associated with a more ordinary occupation, such as a farmer or miller.

The Jungmaier surname is fairly common throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary. It is also fairly common in the United States, especially in larger cities with a high German population.

Today, those people with the Jungmaier surname are proud of their heritage, and some have been able to trace their family roots back for multiple generations. While there may be some arguments over the exact interpretation of the name in some instances, the meaning is common throughout the Jungmaier family. It is a proud and old Germanic name that denotes a position of leadership, responsibility, and skill and continues to be used in all its forms across the world today.

Jungmaier: Where does the name Jungmaier come from?

The last name Jungmaier is most commonly found today in Germany and other German-speaking countries. According to MyHeritage, it is recorded in 876,697 profiles from across the world, with the vast majority living in Germany.

The Jungmaier surname is considered to be German in origin. It is thought that it is derived from the two words of “jung” meaning “young" and “meier” meaning “mayor”, suggesting that the original bearer of the name was a young mayor, or leader, in the area where they were born. This type of surname, which originates from a title of nobility or office, is known as a ‘toponymic’.

The Jungmaier surname first appeared in documents dating back to the 16th century and is widespread in Austria and southern Bavaria, although it is not particularly common in either. It is known that some members of the Jungmaier family moved to England, but the surname is not often found here today.

Consequently, the last name Jungmaier is generally associated with the areas of Bavaria, Alsace and Austria today. In modern times, the large number of people with the surname in Germany suggests that the Jungmaier family have remained a strong presence in the area for many centuries.

Variations of the surname Jungmaier

The surname Jungmaier is a German surname, derived from the noun Jung (young) and the word Meier (mayor). Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin vary from country to country, as well as over time.

In Germany, Jungmaier can be spelled Jungmayer, Jonmayer, Jonmaier, Jonmoller, Jonmuller, Jonmaillon, and Jonmair. Alternate spellings include Jungmeier, Jungmeyer, and Jungmüller.

In Switzerland, the spelling finds variations with Jungmayr, Jungmayir and Jungmeyer.

In Austria, the names Jungmair, Jungmaire, Jungmeir, Jungmiihr, Jungmeyer, and Jungmüllar are common.

In other countries, such as the United States and Canada, the family name can take a variety of spellings such as Jungemayer, Jungmaer, Jungmair, Jungambauer, Jungmaire, Jungemeyer, Jungmeyer, Junghanauer, and Junghans.

In France, the surname has also evolved into Jeunmayer, Jaunmayer and Jeunmair, while in Poland, it is spelled Jahmayer and Jehmayer.

In South Africa, the family name has been anglicized to Youngmeyer.

In Ireland, the surname may have derived as Jángmhiarach (meaning ‘young Mayor’).

In Norway, the surname has been found as Jonmaire, Jonmaer or Jonmaer.

More distantly related surnames that could be of the same origin are Jungmann, Junghändler, Junghans, Jungwirth, and Junker.

Famous people with the name Jungmaier

• David Jungmaier, tennis player who won 5 ITF Futures titles
• Jürgen Jungmaier, a German football manager
• Günter Jungmaier, a former professional German football player
• Alfred Jungmaier, a Nazi politician
• Christian Jungmaier, a German footballer
• Paul Jungmaier, an American photojournalist
• Christopher Jungmaier, Austrian former professional snooker player
• Quentin Jungmaier, Member of the European Parliament for France
• Alex Jungmaier, German boxer
• Henry Jungmaier, a former German chemist and professor of the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel
• Claus Jungmaier, Swiss ski jumper who competed in the early 1950s
• George Jungmaier, American former professional basketball player
• Silvia Jungmaier, Austrian politician and Member of the European Parliament

Other surnames

Jungmair