Surname Ottomeier - Meaning and Origin
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Ottomeier: What does the surname Ottomeier mean?
The last name Ottomeier is of German origin and is derived from the term “odenmeiere” meaning “oter” or “a tenant farmer.” It is commonly found within the region of Baden-Wurttemberg in Southwest Germany. In its early days, it was often spelled Odetmeire or Odemeiere, and it is still a commonly found surname in this area today.
The terms Otenmeiere/Odenmeiere refer to an individual who is a tenant farmer that pays rent on a land that he does not own. This was a common practice among some German farmers in medieval Europe and is still seen today. It was derived from the Middle High German word “oden” which means “to rent.”
The Ottomeier surname was likely one born of a long line of tenant farmers, or “ottenmeiere,” that rented land from a noble or large landowner. This is not uncommon among German surnames, and many families carry older surnames referring to occupations or life situations like Ottomeier.
These days,Ottomeier still exists as a last name but is often seen as being adopted or having changed names from other sources due to emigration from Germany. It is a lasting reminder of the long history of tenant farmers in Germany and of the hard work of those who have come before us.
Order DNA origin analysisOttomeier: Where does the name Ottomeier come from?
The last name Ottomeier is predominantly found today in German-speaking countries. Specifically, it is most commonly found in the historic regions of what is now Germany, Austria, and Switzerland - particularly South and North Germany. In 2000, it was found in approximately 6 of every 100,000 people living there.
The origins of the name Ottomeier are not fully known, but it is clear that it was derived from the German words "otto" and "meier" coming from the Old Germanic language. "Otto" means "wealth" and "Meier" was a term used to describe wealthy landowning farmers, indicating that it is likely the name dates back to an ancestor from a particularly wealthy family.
Today, it is still quite common within its original areas, especially in the German language. Outside of those areas however, the name is considered to be of low frequency, as it is not widely spread outside of those German-speaking countries. It is possible however that there are some people, like those who migrated, still bearing the name in different places around the world, as a result of having either German ancestors or being related to someone who had German roots.
Variations of the surname Ottomeier
The surname Ottomeier or Ottomyer is of German origin. The family name is derived from the German word "Otto", which means rich. The root of the name is "Otte", which means wealth or estate.
The variants of the surname are Otte Meyer, Otte Meirer, Otte Meurer, and Otte Myer. All these variants of the name can be recognized by different interpretations or the wrong spelling of the surname.
In addition to these variants, the surname can also be found in a range of other spellings which include: Olte5mer, Oltemeyer, Oltemeier, Oltemyer, Olltmayer, Othmeier and Ottmayer.
The most common international spelling of the surname is "Ottomeier". In some countries the spelling may differ due to different variations in pronunciation and cultural background. In Denmark the surname appears as Otte Mejer or Otte Meyer, while in Norway it is spelt Ottemyer, while in the Netherlands it is spelt Ottemyer.
In some cases, the surname might be found under the spelling of "Ottemer" or "Ottemeier" as well. This happens when people are unaware of the correct spelling or when they are unfamiliar with the original surname.
Overall, Ottomeier is a German surname which can be found in many parts of the world. It has many variants and spellings which include: Ottomyer, Otte Meyer, Otte Meirer, Otte Meurer, Otte Myer, Olte5mer, Oltemeyer, Oltemeier, Oltemyer, Olltmayer, Othmeier and Ottmayer.
Famous people with the name Ottomeier
- Olaf Ottomeier: a German ice dancer who won the 1983 and 1984 German national championships.
- Michael Ottomeier: a German former footballer who played for clubs such as SV Darmstadt 98 and FC St. Pauli.
- Heinz Ottomeier: a German former professional cyclist and three-time German national road race champion.
- Fritz Ottomeier: a German businessman who was the CEO and chairman of the supervisory board of the Otto Group from 1999 to 2010.
- Ely Ottomeier: an American television director and editor.
- Johann Christian Friedrich Ottomeier: a German theologian and educator of the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Hartmut Ottomeier: a German politician and former mayor of Wuppertal.
- Marianne Ottomeier: a German TV presenter, journalist, radio speaker and author.
- Helmut Ottomeier: a German naturalist, horticulturalist, landscape designer and gardener from the early 20th century.
- Philipp Ottomeier: a German former ski jumper who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics.