Surname Obstmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Obstmeier: What does the surname Obstmeier mean?
The last name Obstmeier is a German name, taken from "Obst" meaning fruit, and "Meier" denoting a landowner or peasant farmer. It is thought to be derived from a nickname given to a person who grew or sold fruit in the Middle Ages.
The first recorded family with this surname were recorded in 1375, in the town of Göttingen in Lower Saxony. Since then the family has spread across the country, so that today there are branches of Obstmeiers in all parts of Germany.
Although there is no widely accepted meaning, it is thought that the name might imply an industrious, hard-working and motivated character, which could go some way to explain why the family spread so widely through the region.
The name Obstmeier is still fairly common in Germany today, hinting at an ancestor who was able to make a living, as well as leave his mark on history.
Order DNA origin analysisObstmeier: Where does the name Obstmeier come from?
The last name Obstmeier is most commonly found in the German-speaking region of Europe today. The surname is derived from an Old German word "obst" meaning ‘fruit’, and “meier” translating to “governor” or “landlord”. The literal translation is therefore "governor of the fruit".
Historically, the surname was associated with families that owned and governed fruit orchards. It is likely that these families came to prominence in the 1600s, during a period of increased fruit production in Germany. By the time of the 19th century, the Obstmeier surname was recorded as being common in the areas of Bavaria, Saxony, Prussia and Thuringia.
In modern times, the Obstmeier surname is likely to be found most commonly in the areas of Germany and Austria, as well as countries with large German-speaking populations, such as Brazil, South Africa and the United States. Furthermore, as German migration increased during the Second World War and in the years after, the Obstmeier surname can be found in other countries across the world, such as Argentina, Canada and Australia.
Overall, the surname Obstmeier continues to have common usage in the German-speaking world today, having a notable impact on its diaspora over the past several centuries.
Variations of the surname Obstmeier
The surname Obstmeier is a German occupational surname of the early Middle Ages. It can be derived from the words “Obst”, meaning ‘fruit’, and “meier”, referring to an administrative official. It is a variation of the aristocratic-sounding name Ostermayer, meaning ‘Fruit-Mayor’.
The variants of Obstmeier include Obstermeier, Oberstmaier and Ostermayer. They are all derived from the same root word ‘meier’.
The various spellings of this surname are Obstmaier, Obstermaier, Oberstermaier, Ostermaier, and Ostermayer.
Variations of the surname Obstmeier include Obstermeier, Obstermaier, Oberstermaier, and Ostermayer. All are derived from the same root word ‘meier’.
The variations in spelling of this surname are limited and do not significantly alter the pronunciation or meaning of the name. This variation in spelling may be due to the inaccuracy of transliteration from Germanic to English or due to the ignorance of the poor at the time of recording.
The surnames derived from Obstmeier are:
Oberfeind, Obst, Obstler, Obstreit, Obwaldt, Ochersleben, Oeynhausen, Oetzel, Oppermann, Ostheim, Osthoff, Osterloh, Ostermeyer, and Ostwald.
The surnames of the same origin showing a similar meaning to Obstmeier include Obstholz, Obsthoff and Obstschweis. They all derived from the German word Obst (fruit).
The phonetic spellings are: Apstermai, Aispstarmay, Oepstermayer, Oostamayr and Uepstermeer.
In conclusion, the surname Obstmeier has several different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. All derived from the same root word ‘meier’, meaning ‘administrative official’. Variations in spelling can be attributed to errors in transliteration from Germanic to English or due to cultural ignorance.
Famous people with the name Obstmeier
- Brett Obstmeier, former professional American football player
- Paul Obstmeier, German voice actor
- Sabine Obstmeier, German politician
- Abigail Obstmeier, author and playwright
- Werner Obstmeier, former German chess master
- Peter Obstmeier, German journalist and author
- Uli Obstmeier, German professional footballer
- Mathias Obstmeier, German sculptor
- Bernhard Obstmeier, German photographer
- Mike Obstmeier, professional photographer and software developer