Surname Vordermaier - Meaning and Origin
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Vordermaier: What does the surname Vordermaier mean?
The last name Vordermaier is of German origin and belongs to the category of surnames of topographic origin. The word 'Vorder' is derived from the German 'vorne', meaning ‘in front’ or ‘before’, combined with the word ‘Maier’, which denotes someone who lives in a particular region. 'Maier' comes from the Middle High German 'meigaere', meaning ‘farmer' or 'official', and was often a common title given to people who acted as the protector or head of a village.
Together, the last name Vordermaier can be translated as ‘the Maier who lives before’ or ‘the one in front’. It is likely that the ancestors bearing this name had settled in a certain region before others had initially arrived. Therefore, their surname provided a unique reference to their location and status.
The Vordermaier family are known to be rooted in Bavaria, a state in southern Germany. Here, Vordermaier families have reportedly been living for centuries. Besides Bavaria, numerous Vordermaier families are known to have settled in other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland, Austria and France.
Thus, Vordermaier is an uncommon and interesting surname that has German origins and provides a unique meaning about its holders’ ancestral background and location.
Order DNA origin analysisVordermaier: Where does the name Vordermaier come from?
The last name Vordermaier is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, but it is also present in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, a database compiling surname-related statistics, the surname is most popular in the German state of Bavaria, where about 5,000 citizens share it. In Austria, more than 700 people bear the surname.
In addition, Vordermaier can also be found in Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. In these countries, this family name is not very widespread. However, a few hundred families in each have adopted the name, either due to their roots elsewhere in Central Europe or through marriage.
Vordermaier is also present in the United States. As of the 2020 census, an estimated 1,000-2,000 Americans have it, spread across the country, particularly in California, Texas, New York, and Illinois. The name is also present in other parts of the world, such as Canada, Australia, England, and Brazil.
Overall, although the last name Vordermaier appears to be most common in Central and Eastern Europe, it is present in many countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Vordermaier
The surname Vordermaier is a German surname, coming from the Middle High German “vorder” meaning “forward” and “maier” meaning “mayor”. The most common spellings of this surname are Vordermaier, Vordermeyer, Vordermayer, and Vordermeier.
Variations of the surname Vordermaier can be found in several countries around Europe. In Austria, for instance, the variations “Vordermann” and “Vordermayr” are recorded, while in Switzerland, the variation Vordermaier is registered.
The surname Vordermaier can also be found in many other countries, such as Denmark, The Netherlands, Poland, and Italy. Other variations include Vordermaer, Vordermar and Vordermaeir. In some countries, the spelling may be changed a bit, but the meaning stays the same – “forward mayor”.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Vordermaier include Vorderwieler, Vorderwinder, and Vorderwenzl. These surnames come from the Middle High German words ‘vorder’ and ‘wieler’, meaning ‘forward’ and ‘wagoner’ or ‘wagon driver’ respectively.
Vordermaier is also related to surnames such as Vorderwilken, Vorderreiter, and Vorderschäfer. These surnames come from the Middle High German words ‘vorder’, ‘wilken’, ‘reiter’, and ‘schäfer’, meaning ‘forward’, ‘weaver’, ‘rider’, and ‘shepherd’ respectively.
Overall, regardless of the variation and spellings of the surname Vordermaier, the meaning remains the same - a mayor who stands at the forefront.
Famous people with the name Vordermaier
- Rainer Vordermaier: German footballer who played for teams such as FC Bayern Munich and FC Rot-Weiss Essen.
- Tom Vordermaier: former American baseball player who played for the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Ulrike Vordermaier: German alpine skier, competing in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.
- Markus Vordermaier: Austrian alpine ski racer who competed in the World Cup from 1992 to 2000.
- Chris Vordermaier: American soccer player currently playing for FC Bayern Munich.
- Franz Vordermaier: German sailors who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Paul Vordermaier: German professional footballer who played in the Bundesliga and for teams like Lüneburger SK.
- Petra Vordermaier: Austrian alpine skier, competing in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
- Sebastian Vordermaier: German luger, competing from 2004 to 2012.
- Saul Vordermaier: Israeli ice dancer, competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.