Surname Zentmaier - Meaning and Origin
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Zentmaier: What does the surname Zentmaier mean?
The last name Zentmaier is a German surname, which is derived from a pair of words, "Cent" and "Maier." Cent comes from the Latin word for "hundred," and Maier is a German word for "farmer." Therefore, the last name Zentmaier implies someone who was a farm manager responsible for a hundred fields or a hundred serfs.
The name first appeared in Bavaria, Germany, where it was used by one of the earliest noble families that lived in the area. The Zentmaier noble family held estates, businesses, and other properties in the area, and the name was passed on over the centuries.
Over time, the name Zentmaier also became associated with various professions such as labourers, merchants, bookbinders, and teachers. It continues to be a unique last name throughout Germany, and is also found in some other parts of the world - such as Austria, the United States, and Canada.
Regardless of region, the last name Zentmaier still holds the traditional meaning it had centuries ago - a manager of a hundred fields or serfs. It represents a proud, long-standing heritage, and for many, a special connection to Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisZentmaier: Where does the name Zentmaier come from?
The last name Zentmaier is found predominantly in Germany and Austria today. It is a German surname with roots dating back to the 12th century. Its origin lies in the Middle High German zēme (manor or estate) and meige (district or border). The meaning of the name is thus "that of a border district dweller".
The surname Zentmaier appeared in various parts of Germany from the Middle Ages onwards. During the sixteenth century, its popularity appears to have largely been concentrated in the Upper Rhineland area and in Prussia. It grew further in popularity throughout the eighteenth century. Later, from the nineteenth century onwards, Zentmaiers moved into areas such as Baden, central Germany and South West Germany, as well as Austria and Switzerland.
The earliest known record of the Zentmaier surname was Florian Zentmeyere, recorded in the Landshut parish register in 1520. Today, the Zentmaier surname is still particularly popular in the Rhineland, especially in the urban areas of Cologne, Dusseldorf and Bonn. There are also other Zentmaiers inhabiting mainly small rural towns and hamlets in the Black Forest, the Bavarian Forest, the Allgäu and the German Alsace of France as well as in Austria, German-speaking Switzerland and Luxembourg.
In Germany, the surname is found mainly in the counties and states of Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. In Austria, Zentmaiers reside mainly in the rural counties of Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria and Vorarlberg.
Variations of the surname Zentmaier
Zentmaier is a variation of the German, Swiss, and Austrian surnames Zintmayer, Zintmeier, and Zintmaier. These surnames are derived from the German words Zint and Mai, which mean “grain” and “field”, respectively. All of these variations of Zentmaier likely refer to a place or field that was farmed at one point in time.
The variants of Zentmaier include Zintmayer, Zintmeier, and Zintmaier. These spellings can appear with different accents or in some cases, with different letters. Variations of the spelling include Zintmeyer, Zindmaier, Zintmeiër, Zintmayr, Zintmeyr, Zentmayr, Zentmeyer, and Zontmaier.
Surnames from the same origin may include Centmaier, Gentmaier, Centmayer, Gentmayer, Centmeier, Gentmeier, Centmaier, Gentmaier, Queinmaier, Seinmaier, Scheinmaier, Feinmaier, Geinmaier, Zeinmaier, Reintmaier, Reindmaier, Rheinmaier, Rhinmaier, and Rinmaier.
These surnames can appear in different countries, languages, and cultures due to migration and changing demographics. It is possible to find these surnames in other European countries, especially those with Germanic influence, such as Switzerland, Austria, and parts of Poland, France, and the Netherlands. As with many surnames, spelling differences may also occur due to dialect or regional dialects.
Famous people with the name Zentmaier
- Georg Zentmaier: Georg Zentmaier is an Austrian animator and the founder of the cartoon production house, Zentmaier Productions. He is also the brains behind such beloved films as the animated Christmas movie, Debora, and the short film, Restschuldner.
- Florian Zentmaier: Florian Zentmaier is a German football player, currently playing for SSV Jahn Regensburg in the 2. Bundesliga. He previously had stints with FC Schalke 04, FC Ingolstadt 04 and TSV 1860 Munich.
- Kalle Zentmaier: Kalle Zentmaier is a Finnish rock and pop songwriter and composer. He has composed for many hit songs and albums, including renowned albums such as Shine, which was released in 2011.
- Adi Zentmaier: Adi Zentmaier is an Austrian racing driver and former European Rally Cross Champion. He has competed in a variety of motorsport categories, including the World Rally Championship.
- Eva Zentmaier: Eva Zentmaier is an Austrian medical doctor and professor at Innsbruck Medical University. She is known for her research on cell biology and specialized in the area of new therapeutic strategies to treat rheumatic diseases.
- Andreas Zentmaier: Andreas Zentmaier is an Austrian DJ and producer from Vienna and a member of the artistic collective The Gift Music, which focuses on arts and music events.