Surname Zeidlmaier - Meaning and Origin

Zeidlmaier: What does the surname Zeidlmaier mean?

The last name Zeidlmaier is a German surname that has its origins in the Bavarian dialect, specifically in the language of the Palatinate. Its literal translation is "Celtic leader". It has been theorized that it could have been used to describe people of Celtic ancestry or origin, as the Celts were a prominent group of ancient people that lived in the region.

The Zeidlmaier surname is closely related to the words Zeydl (from the Old High German for "leader") and Meier (from the Middle High German for "farmer" or "villager"). It is also related to the more general German last name Meier.

In modern times, the Zeidlmaier surname is often seen in parts of Bavaria, including Franconia and Palatinate, as well as Austria and Switzerland, with a small presence in the United States and Canada.

Throughout its history, the Zeidlmaier surname has been carried by many individuals, such as the Austrian engineer and mathematician Sebastian Zeidlmaier, who created the mathematical proof for the power series in the 1700s. Another notable bearer of the surname is Ernst Zeidlmaier, a German-American businessman who is the founder and chairman of K+S Group AG.

Zeidlmaier: Where does the name Zeidlmaier come from?

The last name Zeidlmaier is most commonly found in Germany. It is a toponymic surname, derived from a small village in Bavaria, called Zeidlmaier. Though the village is small, only a few hundred inhabitants, the name has spread throughout the country.

The name can be found scattered across Germany in the countryside but is quite rare. Genetic genealogy services from the US are used to see where and how far the name has spread over the centuries.

Along with Germany, the surname has also spread to other nearby countries. Records from the United States, Canada and Australia all have references to Zeidlmaiers who have settled there in recent generations.

Though the Zeidlmaier name is not prolific, there are still hundreds of people in Germany bearing the name. Some of them still live in the original area of the small Bavarian village. It is likely that the Zeidlmaiers that have spread around the world also descended from the village.

The name is uncommon today, but scattered across Europe and beyond. As time goes on, more Zeidlmaiers are likely to appear in different countries.

Variations of the surname Zeidlmaier

The Zeidlmaier surname has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, some of which include Seidlmaier, Zeidlmeier, Seidlmeier, Seitlmeier, Seitlmaier, Seitelmeier, Seitelmaier, Seitlmeyer, Seitlmeyer, Seitlmyer, Seitmeyer, Seitmyer, Seidlmyer, Seidelmeyer, Seidelmeyer and Seidelmyer.

Additionally, Zeidlmaier can also be anglicized to Seidelmair, Seidelmeir or Sidelmair. This is due to the fact that the original German spelling had the 'ß' character (also known as an ‘Eszett’) which was changed in some cases to ‘ss’ or ‘sz’ in English-speaking countries.

The surname is derived from the Middle High German “seit”, which translates to “side”, and the Middle High German “meier” or “mair”, meaning “steward, head of the household, mayor”. It is believed that the Zeidlmaier surname was created by occupational name to distinguish people who would have likely possessed land and buildings, who had the responsibility to manage the daily activities of the estate and to collect the taxes.

As a result of the migration of many people of the Zeidlmaier family during the 18th century, the surname can also be found in other countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Russia, and the US, where the spelling usually changed to the local language. For example, some Zeidlmaier families in the US opted to use a simplified spelling of the name, such as Seidel, Seidelmaier, or Seidelmayer.

The variations of the Zeidlmaier surname demonstrate how surnames have been often adapted, changed and spread over a vast geographic area by individuals and families who migrated in search of new opportunities.

Famous people with the name Zeidlmaier

• Martin Zeidlmaier: Germany's handball goalkeeper.
• Robert Zeidlmaier: Austrian entrepreneur and founder of IRO newsletter.
• Arthur Zeidlmaier: A former German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
• Arthur Zeidlmaier Jr.: Austrian composer and pianist.
• Marcus Zeidlmaier: German footballer who plays as a midfielder for SC Freiburg.
• Paul Zeidlmaier: Austrian skier who won a bronze medal in the 1956 Winter Olympics.
• Philipp Zeidlmaier: Former bass player for the Italian progressive death metal band “Hour of Penance”.
• Reinhard Zeidlmaier: German former diplomat, serving as Ambassador to Bangladesh from 2006 to 2011.
• Adolf Zeidlmaier: German actor best known for his role in the 1959 film "Homeland".
• Willy Zeidlmaier: German sculptor and painter from Munich.

Other surnames

Zeidlmayr