Surname Zechmeister - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'Z'
Zechmeister: What does the surname Zechmeister mean?
The last name Zechmeister (or Zeckmeister) is a German surname meaning “master of the storehouse” or “master of the treasury.” Historically, it indicated someone who worked as a steward or accountant within a noble household and was responsible for ensuring that the household had enough resources to meet its needs. This role involved the person keeping track of the lord’s finances, stocking his wine, grain, and other food items, and safeguarding the treasury against theft or embezzlement.
The Zechmeister surname is an occupational name, which indicates that it likely comes from an ancestor who worked in such a role, or at least who practiced and perfected the craft of stewardship and accounting. This is even more likely for those with the variant Zeckmeister, because the name suggests the German word for “craftsman” or “skilled worker.” It is possible that the person who carried the surname also served as a tour guide or chief administrator in the realm of the grand noble, as the word “Zechmeister” is a combination of the words “zechen,” which means “tour” or “journey,” and the German word “Meister,” which denotes someone with skilled mastery.
Given the dignified duties assumed by its beginning bearer, the presence of the Zechmeister and Zeckmeister surnames in one’s lineage suggests a very early place of privilege within the family tree. Apart from giving individuals an indication of their heritage’s nobility, the surname also serves as a reminder of the responsibilities of communal stewardship.
Order DNA origin analysisZechmeister: Where does the name Zechmeister come from?
The last name Zechmeister is a relatively uncommon last name today, with less than 1,000 people in the United States sharing the surname according to the 2020 Census data. The surname is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, with the highest concentrations residing in these countries. In Germany, the highest percentage of the population with the surname Zechmeister is found in Lower Saxony, the state where Hanover is located. It is estimated that about 0.0006% of the population in Germany carries the name, making it a rare surname.
In Austria, the surname is somewhat more common, though still quite rare. The highest percentages of the population bearing the name are found in Upper Austria and Vienna. The surname Zechmeister is slightly more popular in Vienna and the surrounding states compared to the rest of Austria, although the surname is still quite uncommon.
In the United States, the surname is scattered across the country in small concentrations. States with the highest population of Zechmeisters include Texas, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Interestingly, the population of the surname is best showcased by the city of New York. In the city alone, there are currently around 100 individuals with the last name Zechmeister.
Overall, the name Zechmeister is still fairly rare today, with the most significant concentrations of the population bearing this name living in Germany, Austria, and select parts of the United States.
Variations of the surname Zechmeister
The surname Zechmeister is a German occupational name meaning ‘the master of the cauldron’ or ‘the master of the brewing process’. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Cechmeister, Cechmister, Zech, Zeck, Zeckmeister, Zeckmister and Zecksmiter.
The name Cechmeister is a variant of Zechmeister, and is derived from the old German word ‘cech’, which means ‘brewer’ or ‘cook’. It functioned as an occupational name to describe the supervisor of a brewing or cookery process. Variations of Cechmeister include Cechmister, which is derived from the same root word.
The spelling variations Zech and Zeck are likely derived from a phonetic spelling of Zechmeister. Zeckmeister and Zeckmister are variants of this spelling, used interchangeably but usually favored in certain regions, dialects and pronunciations.
Finally, the surname Zecksmiter is believed to be derived from the word ‘cech’. It could have been used to incorporate the idea of the ‘master of the boiling process’ within a surname, but could also have been adopted to signify a smithing job or even a farrier.
Overall, the surname Zechmeister is associated with many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Each spelling likely emerged due to regional preference or phonetic modifications of the original name, but all of them have their roots in the German word ‘cech’, meaning ‘brewer’ or ‘cook’.
Famous people with the name Zechmeister
- Michael Zechmeister: Danish racing cyclist who represented Denmark at the World championships in 1965.
- Zina Zechmeister: 19th century German stage and film actress.
- Alexander Zechmeister: Austrian architect who designed the first large Viennese train station in 1849.
- Eleanour Zechmeister: Austrian fashion designer.
- Pedram Zechmeister: Iranian mathematician and associate professor at Islamic Azad University.
- Marisa Zechmeister: Austrian freestyle athlete, competing in the Olympic games in 2010.
- Ralf Zechmeister: German television director and author.
- Reinhard Zechmeister: Austrian author who wrote Christian literature.
- Ursula Zechmeister: Austrian actress.
- Sebastian Zechmeister: German sculptor and painter.
- Robbie Zechmeister: German/Ukrainian actor.
- Joachim Zechmeister: Austrian footballer who played for several local professional clubs.
- Benedikt Zechmeister: German actor and writer.
- Barbara Zechmeister: Austrian writer known for her role-playing game books.
- Paul Zechmeister: Austrian actor who gained fame for various television and movie roles.
- Marion Zechmeister: German singer and harpist.
- Erich Zechmeister: Austrian physicist and professor emeritus at the University of Vienna.
- Ulrike Zechmeister: German Olympic athlete who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympic games.
- Florian Zechmeister: German comedian and author.
- Konstantin Zechmeister: Austrian poet, playwright and screenwriter.