Surname Meinelt - Meaning and Origin
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Meinelt: What does the surname Meinelt mean?
Meinelt is a German surname derived from an old Germanic given name, the form of medieval Christian names such as Mainzelm and Mainhard. The roots of the name are compound, meaning 'strength' and 'will' respectively. The Meinelt surname has been found primarily in central and northern Germany, but is common throughout Europe. In the United States, the surname is particularly well-represented in the Midwest Region.
Meinelt was also a prominent surname in the 18th century amongst the Prussian aristocracy. It was during this period that the name was recorded in Lübeck, in what is now present day Germany. The Lübeck records show that Meinelt was used interchangeably with the name von Meinert.
Meinelt is an ancient surname with a long and distinguished history. It has been adopted by families from all over the world, and its roots are in strong Germanic tradition. Those who bear the name Meinelt can feel proud of their heritage and take comfort in knowing that the name has survived and blossomed in many different ways. In all its forms, it is a reminder of the resilience of both people and their names—a lasting reflection of strength, will, and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisMeinelt: Where does the name Meinelt come from?
The surname Meinelt is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the eastern regions of the country. In 2020, Germany was estimated to be home to around 800 people bearing the Meinelt name.
However, since the 1800s, many members of the Meinelt family have dispersed across the world. This has resulted in the name being found in parts of North America, such as Canada and the United States, as well as in other parts of Europe, including Britain, Belgium, Italy, Latvia, and Romania.
In its migration to these other countries, the name Meinelt has been subject to some spelling variations. Examples include Minelli, Minnelt, Meinholdt, and Mennel, just to name a few.
Notably, in the recent history of Meinelt family members, the name has been associated with several famous people, including German actor and director Albrecht Meinelt, violinist Valerie Meinelt, and American author Alexander Meinelt.
Although the Meinelt surnames is more widely dispersed today than in past centuries, the largest concentration of family members can still be found in Germany.
Variations of the surname Meinelt
The surname Meinelt comes from a Germanic origin and can include many variations depending on how it was spelled during the time of its conception. Meinelt is often seen spelled as Meynelt, Mainelt and Mainoldt. All of these variant spellings of the surname are derived from the pre-7th century German diminutive ‘mein’ which means ‘mine’, and ‘hold’, which translates to ‘guard’ or ‘protector’. As such, Meinelt can take on other forms such as Mehlhold, Mehnhold, Maynhold and many others. This surname is also used as a patronymic; in this case, the name is often seen as Meinelt-son.
Meinelt is found most often throughout Germany, yet it has also spread to other countries such as Poland, the United States of America, Belgium and the Netherlands. There, it takes on similar variants, albeit adapted to the language of the country in which it is found. For example, Poland's common spelling of Meinelt is Majnhold, and in the Netherlands, a more commonly used spelling is Meijnoud.
The earliest known recorded ancestor of the Meinelt surname was a Baroness Elisabeth Meinelt, who came from Westphalia, Germany and resided in America around the late 18th century. In more recent times, relatives and persons belonging to this surname were soldiers fighting in both World War I and World War II.
In addition, many well-known people in the world of business have held the surname Meinelt, among them being Dieter Meinelt, the former chairman of Boettcher AG. This family-owned firm from Schoeppingen, Germany is a renowned company that produces high quality steel construction components.
To summarise, the surname Meinelt is found throughout Europe and the United States of America, and can take on many different forms. As a patronymic, it also may be called Meinelt-son, and those belonging to the Meinelt line have been involved in both World War I and World War II. It is also a surname that is associated with success, and has adorned the name of many successful business persons.
Famous people with the name Meinelt
- Linda Meinelt: German sport shooter
- Tony Meinelt: German football manager
- Kurt Meinelt: German World War I flying ace
- Maike Meinelt: German actress
- Larry Meinelt: American football player
- Rudi Meinelt: German World War I flying ace
- Armin Meinelt: German art director
- Bob Meinelt: American author
- Joachim Meinelt: German film editor
- Kurt Meinelt, Jr.: German World War II bomber pilot