Surname Oelmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Oelmeier: What does the surname Oelmeier mean?
The last name Oelmeier is of German origin and is derived from the occupational surname "Ölmaier". This surname developed from the Medieval German phrase "Ölmachern", meaning "oil maker" or "oil merchant". The surname then evolved to refer to people who either made or sold oil, such as candle makers, lamp liters, etc., in what was known in Medieval Germany as the "Ölmacherei".
The Oelmeier family can trace its origins to regions of central and southwest Germany. The earliest known records of the name date back to the 15th century, in the city of Göttingen, which is located in Lower Saxony. The city of Elmshorn, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, is also a region that has historically seen the presence of the Oelmeier family.
Today the Oelmeier surname is primarily found in the regions of Bavaria, Hesse, and Berlin. Depending on the area, Oelmeier may be spelled Oelmaier, Oehlmeier, Ölmeyers, Olmaier, and Oelmayer.
The surname Oelmeier is very apt for those who once worked in the ölmacherei since it is derived from the Middle German phrase "Ölmachern". Over the centuries, the Oelmeier family has originated and spread throughout Germany and beyond, living up to its strong, proud, and industrious roots.
Order DNA origin analysisOelmeier: Where does the name Oelmeier come from?
The last name Oelmeier is most commonly found today in Germany, especially in its northern regions. However, it is also found in the United States, as it was brought to America by German immigrants in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Historically, the name has a long and distinguished history, with its origins in the Middle Ages in the Haarland region of present-day Germany.
The name Oelmeier is derived from the Germanic and Dutch oel (meaning oil) and meie (meaning storage). It is believed to have been a name of nobility given to those charged with overseeing oil production and storage. The spelling of the name has varied over time, with the original spelling being Wolfsmüller, which later morphed into the current version.
In Germany, the name has been associated with various branches of the arts. For example, the composer Marius Oelmeier was born in the small German town of Niedergurig in 1869 and is well known for his symphonies and operas. Today, Oelmeier is a popular surname in Germany, mostly concentrated in the northern region of Schleswig-Holstein.
In the United States, the name is much less common outside of German-American communities. Oelmeier family members can be found in small numbers in Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Oregon, and elsewhere, where their ancestors settled many years ago.
Variations of the surname Oelmeier
The surname Oelmeier is of German origin and can be spelled in many variants, including Oelmayer, Oelmey, Oelmeyer, Oelmyer, Oelmaier, Ölmeir, Ölmayer, and Ölme, as well as other minor variations.
The variants are largely derived from the same sources. For instance, the Oelmaier and Oelmayr variants are derived from the German words oel, meaning oil, and maier, meaning mayor. The same combination of words are also found in the variant Ölme, which is derived from the Low Saxon ore-+maere, meaning oil+Mayor.
The Ölmayer and Ölmeir variants of the surname come from the German words oel and maurer, meaning oil and mason, respectively. The Oelmey and Oelmyer variants come from the German form of the word oelmaiher, which was used to refer to a person who worked with oil.
The surname Oelmeier can also appear in other surname variants, including Oelma, Ölmi, Oelheim, Oelhinrich, and Oelen. The Oelhorn variant comes from the German combination of the words oel and horn, meaning oil and horn or corner, respectively. The Oeltin variant is derived from the German combination of the words oel and tin, meaning oil and clay, respectively.
Overall, there are many variants of the surname Oelmeier, each of which may have a slightly different origin but are still of German descent.
Famous people with the name Oelmeier
- Hunter Oelmeier: American college baseball pitcher and author.
- Malcolm Oelmeier: Australian professional heavyweight boxer who competed during the 1910s.
- Timothy Oelmeier: American basketball player who graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1997.
- Clarence Oelmeier: Professional American golfer, active in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Edward Oelmeier: American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who earned honors in 1977.
- Ronald Oelmeier: American Electrical Engineer, who worked with the Control Data Corporation during his career.
- Joe Oelmeier: American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1956 to 1964.
- Carl Oelmeier: German geologist who worked extensively on the study of mineralogy.
- George Oelmeier: Professional American golfer who won several championships between 1915 and 1937.
- Forrest Oelmeier: Professional American golfer who won the Ohio Amateur championship in 1927 and 1931.