Surname Zehetmayer - Meaning and Origin
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Zehetmayer: What does the surname Zehetmayer mean?
The last name Zehetmayer is a German surname derived from the German word "zehn," meaning "ten," and the word "maier," meaning "mayor" or "councilman." The name was originally used to indicate a person with a high ranking social standing, as seen in Middle German records where the term was used to refer to an individual who was part of a governing council of ten. As a result of its history as a marker of social status, the last name Zehetmayer is often associated with wealth and privilege.
The name likely originates from the Middle Ages, when members of the upper class would often serve on councils of ten that oversaw an area. The final "er" at the end of the name could be an indicator of the family's origin in southeastern Germany in the states of Bavaria, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The name was likely transliterated by immigrants coming to the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries, as it is still common in those parts of central Europe.
Overall, the last name Zehetmayer is a symbol of privilege in Germany, as it was historically used as a status marker. It is still found in southeastern parts of Europe such as Bavaria, Austria, and the Czech Republic, and it has likely spread throughout the world with emigrants who adopted the name to identify themselves.
Order DNA origin analysisZehetmayer: Where does the name Zehetmayer come from?
The last name Zehetmayer is most commonly found in Austria today. The surname has a long and often distinguished history in Austria, and was well known in the Middle Ages. Some versions of the name can be found as far back as the 12th century, when Wilhelm Zehetmayer was mentioned in records in the city of Garsten.
The surname has always been quite rare, with only a small, yet distinct, group of people bearing it believed to exist since the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from 'zeither', which means 'to raise one's arms', and 'mayer', a word that translates to 'mayor' or 'lord'.
Today, the Zehetmayer name is quite rare in Austria, but can still be found scattered throughout the country, primarily in discount Counties. In addition, there are a handful of individuals with this special last name in the United States. Most Zehetmayers in the US are believed to be of Austrian ancestry, and it is assumed that the last name was adopted by a very small number of immigrants back in the 1800s.
Despite its rarity today, the Zehetmayer name has always been an important part of Austrian history. It continues to remind people of a past when Austria was a powerful country, and serves as a sign of a family's dedication over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Zehetmayer
The surname Zehetmayer can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Sehetmayer, Sehetmair, Zehetmaier, Zehetmair, Zehetmayr, Sehetmayr, Sehetmayer, Zehetmayer, Sehetmayer, Sehetmeyer, Sehetmeyerin, Zechtmayer, Zechtmayr and Zechtmayer.
The surname was probably derived from a place name with which the original bearer was associated. The German words “zehet” and “mayer” are believed to have been combined to form the surname. “Zehet” is an Old High German word meaning “spined” or “spiked”, while “mayer” is a common German word meaning “mayor” or “controller”. Therefore, the surname could mean “the mayor of the spined place.”
The surname has a long history, dating back to at least the 17th century when it was found in the city of Nürnberg, Bavaria. It is still common in this area today, as well as in other parts of southern and central Germany. The surname is also found in Austria and Switzerland.
This surname is also carried by numerous people in the United States and Canada, suggesting those with this surname arrived in North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The various spellings and variants of Zehetmayer can sometimes be confusing, as some of them have taken on different forms over the years. Nonetheless, the origin of the name remains the same in all of its many spellings and variations.
Famous people with the name Zehetmayer
- Pirmin Zehetmayer: Austrian musician, composer, and producer
- Richard Zehetmayer: Austrian rower who participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 2008
- Karin Zehetmayer: Austrian politician, Mayor of Retz (Lower Austria) since 2009
- Nikola Zehetmayer: Austrian artist who works with photography
- Eva Zehetmayer: Austrian journalist and radio host
- Josef Zehetmayer: Austrian artist, landscape painter
- Marcus Zehetmayer: Austrian snowboarder, competed at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi
- Romana Zehetmayer: German judoka who won silver medal at the European Judo Championships
- Peter Zehetmayer: Austrian entrepreneur and technology expert
- Andrea Zehetmayer: Austrian architect and founder of the WhosGreen.org initiative