Surname Richtermeyer - Meaning and Origin

Richtermeyer: What does the surname Richtermeyer mean?

The last name Richtermeyer is a German surname derived from the words "richter" (judge) and "meyer" (overseer). This combination literally means "judge of overseers." The surname is thought to have originated in the region of Westfalen where there were skilled crafts people in dire need of regulations and oversight. The Richtermeyers were an influential family of judges who enforced guild regulations on the craftspeople of Westfalen and elsewhere in Germany.

The name Richtermeyer is associated with judicial service and governance. Many of these Richtermeyers held posts in the nobility. They had to be well educated as well as of good moral standing in order to serve as judges. This may explain why the Richtermeyers were often sought after for the purpose of noble titles and other kinds of special counsel.

The Richtermeyer name is also found in European Jewish cultures. Richtermeyer families were prominent in Germany during the times of the Nazis and were often persecuted or forced to flee due to their Jewish ancestry.

Today, Richtermeyers are located all over Germany and throughout the world. As a modern surname, Richtermeyer is still associated with government service, law, and justice. Many Richtermeyers carry on the family legacy of overseeing and protecting the laws of the land and providing wise counsel in the judicial system.

Richtermeyer: Where does the name Richtermeyer come from?

The last name Richtermeyer is most commonly seen today in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This is likely because the surname originates in Germany, first appearing in Bayerische Schwaben, a region of southwestern Germany. The earliest Richtermeyer in this area dates back to 1548 - Georg Richtermeyer of Herrnsberndorf, Oberamt Günzburg.

In Germany, the last name Richtermeyer is topographically spread, meaning that its highest density is located in the south, with the largest concentration in the southern German states. The highest concentrations are around Franconia, Saxony, and Swabia, which is in the area of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. In the south of Germany, it is more common in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Hesse regions.

In Austria, the highest concentration of the Richtermeyer surname is found mainly in the states of Tyrol, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg, while in Switzerland, the highest prevalence is in the cantons of Zürich, Basel-Stadt, and Aargau.

Outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Richermeyer is also commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the United States, the name is most commonly found in the states of North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Illinois, Florida and New Jersey.

Variations of the surname Richtermeyer

The surname Richtermeyer, or variants of it, is a German name of topographic origin meaning "rich meadow." Variant spellings include Richtermayer, Richtermaier, Richtmaier, Richtermayr, Richtermayer, Richtermeier, Richtermyer, Richtermeyer, Richtmoyer and Richtmeir.

The surname is most common in Germany, where it is most widespread in the eastern and northeastern regions. It is also found in Austria, but much less so. In the United States, the surname is mainly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and New York.

Other surnames of the same origin include Richter, Richterich, Richterichs, Richters, Richthofen, Reichsbacher and Richthoff. All of these surnames refer to a place of rich meadows, or to someone from such a place, and the use of the term “rich” indicates fertile ground.

It is likely that these surnames have mutated over the years, and there are many stories of different branches of the family not recognizing the derivation of their name from the same root. Richtermayer and Richtermayr, in particular, can often be found in areas of south-western Germany, like Baden-Wuerttemberg and Hessen.

Since the mid-nineteenth century, the surname has also spread to other countries including England, France and Canada. In some cases, the spelling may differ significantly, such as XII Rechtmaier in Switzerland, Rychtmejer in the Netherlands and Rechtmeyer in France.

Famous people with the name Richtermeyer

• Steven Richtermeyer: a German television personality and presenter.
• Marilou Richtermeyer: New Zealand high school teacher and founder of the Whanau Ora Trust.
• Erik Richtermeyer: Danish music producer and composer.
• Richard Richtermeyer: American television writer.
• Kaylin Richtermeyer: Iowa-based paleontologist and conservationist.
• George Richtermeyer: German composer and ethnomusicologist.
• Carl Richtermeyer: German physicist and material specialist.
• Elizabeth Richtermeyer: Australian sculptor.
• Kurt Richtermeyer: Swiss-born American electrical engineer and professor.
• Mary Richtermeyer: American music composer.

Other surnames

Richtermeier