Surname Prösamer - Meaning and Origin
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Prösamer: What does the surname Prösamer mean?
The last name Prösamer is an old German surname that has been traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria in what is today southeastern Germany. The root word ‘prös’ is thought to derive from an old German word meaning ‘protection’, suggesting that the surname referred to a person or family from whom others sought or were given protection.
The Prösamers are associated with a number of towns and villages throughout the Bavarian region. In some of them, the Prösamers were among the few privileged and powerful families. Over the centuries, Prösamers have been involved in a variety of professions, including craftsmen, farmers, brewers, merchants, soldiers, mercenaries, and even military officers.
The Prösamers are remembered for having played a significant role in Germany’s past. During the Thirty Years’ War, for example, members of the Prösamer family served as officers in the imperial army. Moreover, matrilineal lines descended from the Prösamers continued to wield political power in Bavaria and the surrounding area until the 19th century.
In modern times, the Prösamers continue to be noteworthy. Several famous people have the Prösamer surname, including former German president Gustav Heinemann, Bavarian opera singer Wilma Lipp, and well-known German fashion designer Bernhard Willhelm.
Overall, the Prösamer name implies a long heritage of leadership, bravery, and loyalty to one's local community and home country.
Order DNA origin analysisPrösamer: Where does the name Prösamer come from?
The last name Prösamer is a German surname that is still commonly found in many areas of Germany today. It is also found in parts of Austria, though not as often. The name means "greater" and is thought to have originated in the 16th century as a surname for the upper class of society in those regions.
The last name Prösamer is fairly common throughout Germany and can be found throughout most of its metropolitan areas as well as in rural and smaller towns, as well as some parts of Austria. In Germany, people with this surname can be found in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.
In Austria, the surname Prösamer is most commonly found within Vienna, Lower Austria, and Upper Austria. Outside of these areas, the name is significantly less common. It is also known to be present in parts of Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
The name Prösamer is still quite common throughout Europe today, and with the steady increase of travel and migration due to globalization, its prevalence is likely to continue to rise in many areas.
Variations of the surname Prösamer
The surname Prösamer is a German occupational name derived from the Middle High German “prose,” which means hunter or forester. It can be spelled in different variations in different languages and countries, including Prößamer, Prossamer, Pruesamer, Prusamer, Pruessamer, Praesamer, Praessamer and Präsmer.
The surname was used to denote a person who originally worked as a gamekeeper or a forester, or perhaps someone who lived in an area of high hunting for game such as deer, boar or elk. The surname may also have been used to refer to someone who made or sold hunting bait or animal feed, a “prosemaker.”
The surname Prösamer can also be found spelled in a variety of ways with multiple suffixes or prefixes that could indicate the place of origin. In Germany, common suffixes include ‒bach, ‒le, ‒müller, ‒holz, ‒hütte, ‒wald and ‒maier. In English-speaking countries, common spelling variants of the surname include Prösomar, Preesomer, Pryssomar, Prossomar, and Pruessomer.
In addition to these spelling variations of Prösamer, this surname has sometimes been anglicized to similar sounding names such as Prosser or Prusser. The name may also have been adopted by other nationalities or other cultures, resulting in minor variations such as Przesmer in Poland or Priishomor in Russia.
The Prösamer surname is an ancient one, and has been found in records for centuries. It is believed to have been formed in the early Middle Ages (500-1000) and has roots in many different countries and regions of Europe, from Germany, Poland and Russia to France, and Scandinavia.
Famous people with the name Prösamer
- Franz Prösamer (1654–1727): Austrian sculptor, woodcarver, and engraver.
- Georg Prösamer (1668–1747): Austrian Baroque engraver.
- Markus Prösamer (1955–present): Austrian politician.
- Max Prösamer (1825–1889): German sculptor and professor.
- Michael Prösamer (1927–2015): Austrian sculptor, painter, Antiquarian and art restorer.
- Peter Prösamer (1945–present): Austrian architect, painter and graphic artist.
- Stefan Prösamer (1981–present): Austrian European football player.
- Wilhelm Prösamer (1882–1962): Austrian politician, mayor of Vienna and chairman of the Vienna City Council.