Surname Ottmayer - Meaning and Origin
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Ottmayer: What does the surname Ottmayer mean?
The last name Ottmayer is a German surname meaning “wealthy man of the forests.” It likely originated in the mid-Middle Ages and was especially common in the region around Bavaria.
The first record of the Ottmayer name dates to 1290, when a certain “Hans Ulrich Otinmayer” of Eisenneck in Ebern was mentioned in a document in the Royal Archives. By 1550, the Ottmayer name had become so widespread in Germany that more than 70 Ottmayer families were listed in one baptismal register.
Such an old Germanic family likely dates back many centuries prior to the first recorded use of Ottmayer as a surname. It could indicate a powerful heritage, descending from a wealthy local landholder or chief who once held timber rights in a dense forest or wooded area.
Given Germany’s turbulent history and widespread population movements, many of the Ottmayer family have likely migrated away over the centuries. The name may now be found in multiple countries, usually in the form of Ottmayer, Ottmeyer, Ottmair, Ottmeier, or other variants.
Order DNA origin analysisOttmayer: Where does the name Ottmayer come from?
The last name Ottmayer is most commonly found in and around Austria today. The surname can be found throughout the country in cities such as Vienna and Salzburg, and in parts of the surrounding regions of Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Styria.
The origin of the last name Ottmayer is believed to be German, likely derived from the Old High German terms “aud” and “marah” which, when combined, means “that which is honored” or “noble”. It has been adopted in various areas of Europe over the centuries, with the majority of people living with the surname today residing in Austria.
The name Ottmayer is quite rare and exclusive, found in only a small percentage of the population in Austria. However, it is likely that there are also some individuals living in other parts of Europe and even in the United States with the last name. There are currently around 1,000 people living with the Ottmayer last name in Austria, which is approximately 0.003% of the country’s population.
Variations of the surname Ottmayer
The surname Ottmayer has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. For instance, it may appear in records as Ottmayer, Ottmair, Ottmeyer, Ottmeier, Otthammer, Ohtmayer, Othmair, Othmayer and Othmeir. The spelling of the surname Ottmayer is also known to vary throughout different parts of the world.
In Norway, it may be spelled as Odtmær, while in France, it might be spelled as Otmère. In Germany, the spelling might be Otmeir or Ottemer while in Austria, it might appear as Othmayr. In the United States, the spelling is usually found to be Ohtmeyer, Ohtmayer, Otmeyer, and Ahdmeyer.
The surname Ottmayer also has many variants that have been derived from its original spelling. Some of these variants include Ottamaier, Ottamayer, Ottmair, Otmasser, Ommayer, Ommair, Ommair, Ommeir, and Ammer.
The original surname Ottmayer originated from a Germanic language root, possibly related to the old German word "maier" which means "mayor". It is possible that this surname was originally given to those in various regions who held the position of mayor at some point in time.
The original spelling of the name is still used today, but its variants are also very common in different parts of the world. This is due to the fact that during the immigration process, this surname was often changed or altered in order to be easier to pronounce or spell in the new area of residence. These alterations often resulted in the creation of different spellings for the same surname.
Famous people with the name Ottmayer
- Zoltán Ottmayer: A Hungarian actor. He is best known for the 1968 Oscar-winning comedy The Hungarians and for his role in the 1990s television series, Mimi.
- Szilvia Ottmayer: A Hungarian soldier and politician who was First Deputy Mayor of Budapest from 2012 to 2018. She is now an EU commissioner.
- István Ottmayer: A Hungarian sculptor and professor of fine arts at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. He is known for his works in bronze, stone and woodcarving and is considered one of the most important Hungarian sculptors of the 20th century.
- István Ottmayer Jr.: Son of István Ottmayer and another Hungarian sculptor. He is considered to be one of the best Austrian sculptors of his time.
- Otto Ottmayer: An Austrian opera singer who had a successful career in Germany, Austria, and the United States. He was a tenor, baritone, and later a bass-baritone.
- Michael Ottmayer: A singer and professor of music at the Vienna Music Academy. He mostly focused on modern music and his compositions are considered to be some of the most important works of the 20th century.
- Andreas Ottmayer: A German scientist and professor at the University of Berlin. He was an expert in the field of meteorology and is known for authoring several scientific papers.
- August Ottmayer: A German pastor and musician who was active in the late 1700s. He was responsible for collecting hymns and songs to be used in churches and is known for editing books of hymns.