Surname Meierhoff - Meaning and Origin
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Meierhoff: What does the surname Meierhoff mean?
The last name Meierhoff is of German origin and is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. It is believed to have come from the name "Meier" which was originally a German occupational name for people who held the position of mayor or bailiff in Medieval times. "Hoff" is derived from the German word Hof, meaning court. Thus, when combined, the last name has been interpreted as "mayor of the court."
The spelling of Meierhoff can be quite varied as it has been adapted into many different languages depending on where it is found. Some variations include Meyervoet, Meijervoet, Meijerhoff, Meherf, Mehervoet and many others.
The meaning behind the name is one of responsibility and authority, as those with the title of mayor held a great deal of influence. It may be a mark of pride to those who bear the name and a reminder of the important role that those with the title of mayor played in Medieval times.
Order DNA origin analysisMeierhoff: Where does the name Meierhoff come from?
The last name Meierhoff is most common in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, it is the 234th most common surname with 34,323 people bearing the name in 2019. In Austria, Meierhoff is the 477th most common surname with 4,463 people reported having the name in 2019. The surname is far less common in Switzerland with only 155 people having the name in 2019, making it the 2598th most common surname in the country.
Outside of German-speaking countries, Meierhoff is still relatively rare but can be found in other countries, mostly those with a history of German immigration. For example, it is the 138th most common surname in Luxembourg and the 79th most common name in Liechtenstein. Variants of the name, such as Muhrhoff, can be found in the Netherlands and Denmark. In the United States, Meierhoff is much less common, being the 24,747th most common surname in 2019. For a name of Germanic origin, however, it remains relatively rare.
Variations of the surname Meierhoff
Meierhoff is a fairly uncommon surname with Germanic roots. The name has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames, originating from the same origin.
The first variant is "Meierhof," which is also the most common variant. Originally, it was derived from the Middle High German “meierhof” meaning “cultivated land,” which could refer to the family's occupation. The second variant is "Meierhöft," which is essentially the same as "Meierhof," but with an umlaut. "Meierhoff" is the most popular spelling of the family name and is largely used in English-speaking countries.
In Germany, there are also many spellings and variants for the surname, such as "Meyerhoff," "Meierhoffe," "Meierhoft," and "Meierhofen." These variants are used both in German and English-speaking countries.
The Germanic spelling of the surname is also shared by some of its variant forms, such as "Meierhofer," "Meyerhofer" or "Meyerhoffer," which are mainly found in Austria.
In the Netherlands, the surname is spelled "Meijerhof," while in Scandinavia it is spelt "Mejerholm."
There are also a few surnames with a similar Latin origin, such as "Manibrinus" and "Mannafeld," which are related to "Meierhoff" but were derived from the Latin "maneren," meaning "to take charge of land."
Altogether, the surname of Meierhoff has a variety of spellings, variants, and surnames, all of similar origin. These spellings can be found in various languages across Europe, such as German, Dutch, French, and English.
Famous people with the name Meierhoff
- Christoph Meierhoff: German actor
- Uwe Meierhoff: German soccer player
- Sarah Meierhoff: German social media influencer
- Johannes Meierhoff: German sculptor
- Elmar Meierhoff: German photographer
- Mark Meierhoff: American film producer
- Johannes Meierhoff: German composer
- Günter Meierhoff: German zoologist
- Hans-Jürgen Meierhoff: German astrologer
- Fritz Meierhoff: Austrian-American stage producer and theater director