Surname Zentmayer - Meaning and Origin
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Zentmayer: What does the surname Zentmayer mean?
The last name Zentmayer is a German name that originated from Central Germany in the area of Hesse. The name has many different historical spellings, including Zentmeyer, Zentmaier, Zentmair, and Zentmeir. All of these spellings share a common meaning of “centurion” or “centenary”.
The term “centurion” refers to an important leader or soldier in the Roman army, a position that may be the root of the surname. The spelling “Zentmayer” was also likely derived from a Middle High German term, “sentmār”—the combination of the Old High German “sento” (measurement) and “mēri” (boundary).
Historically, many people in this area worked with land and crops; so it could be that the “centenary” meaning of this surname refers to a centenary measure of land or other property. The term “Zentmayer” was also used to indicate a family of millers; this could explain why there are many variations of the same German name, as many millers would have taken on differences spellings of the same name during the early years of the family.
Today, the surname Zentmayer is still found primarily in the German region of Hesse. It is also scattered widely across Europe and can be found in other countries besides Germany. It is likely that today’s bearers of the name share a common ancestor from the Middle High German days.
Order DNA origin analysisZentmayer: Where does the name Zentmayer come from?
The last name Zentmayer is most commonly found in the United States, especially in Pennsylvania where it has a concentration of 8.95 per million residents. Additionally, it is found in Australia, Germany, Austria and other German populations elsewhere in the world. The name is thought to be of German or Yiddish descent, and may have derived from the Middle High German word "zentenmair", meaning a centner or mason.
In the United States, the last name Zentmayer was most prevalent in Pennsylvania, where it held the 55th spot in terms of frequency. In Ohio, the name held the 126th spot; in New York, the 159th spot; in California, the 170th spot; in Michigan, the 278th spot; in Illinois, the 293rd spot; in Texas, the 455th spot; and in Virginia, the 627th spot.
Zentmayer also appeared with a heavy concentration in Germany. In Baden-Württemberg, the name held the 33rd spot, in Bavaria it held the 103rd spot, in Sachsen it held the 101st spot, in Nordrhein-Westfalen it held the 93rd spot, and in Niedersachsen it held the 183rd spot.
Other regions where the last name Zentmayer appears with a significant concentration include Australia, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Canada, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Israel.
Though the last name Zentmayer appears in various parts of the world, its origins remain in the German population. As such it is likely that individuals bearing this last name are of German descent.
Variations of the surname Zentmayer
The Zentmayer surname has several variant spellings and forms, including Zentmeyer, Zentmeier, Zentmeijer, Centmayer, Centmeier, and Centmeijer. It is a surname of German origin.
The original Zentmayer family was first recorded in the 12th century near the German towns of Mainz and Trier. The roots of the surname can be traced back to the Middle High German words zeme, meaning neighbor, and meier, meaning steward or official, so the literal translation of the name is "the steward of the neighbors." The surname was commonly found in several parts of Germany throughout the 1700s and was usually associated with large landed estates.
The Zentmayer surname was also found among Jewish families in Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Jewish immigrants who bore the name Zentmayer settled in the United States in the late 19th century.
The surname can also be found in the Netherlands, where it is written as Zentmeijer, and in the U.S.A., where it is written as Centmayer or Centmeijer. Some families bearing the name Centmayer also settled in Australia in the 19th century.
It is likely that some families bearing the Zentmayer surname are also descended from a branch of the Bauer (commonly rendered as "Farmer") family. A common variation in the spelling of Bauer is Bauermayer, which could easily have been mistaken or understood as Zentmayer, Zentmeyer, Centmayer, or Centmeyer.
The Zentmayer surname is a unique and interesting one, with roots that can be traced back hundreds of years in both Europe and the United States. It is a testament to the long and varied histories of the families that bear it.
Famous people with the name Zentmayer
- Iris Zentmayer: Austrian businesswoman, entrepreneur, and internationally recognized Gwisdom coach.
- Elyse Zentmayer: classically trained cellist and music educator, winner of the 2020 Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Betty Carter Artist Fellowship.
- Aaron Zentmayer: Biomedical engineer, Vice President of Medical Technology at Philips Healthtech, inventor of connected health products and digital solutions.
- Pieter Zentmayer: Dutch footballer who played for several teams in the Dutch Eredivisie in the 1950s and 60s.
- Martin Zentmayer: Hollywood studio musician, composer, arranger, conductor, and educator, who has conducted for stars such as Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross, and Barry Manilow.
- Bjorn Zentmayer: German-born cinematographer who has worked on many international films and television series, including “Helena from the Wedding” and “Flesh and Bone”.
- Derek Zentmayer: American entrepreneur who founded Gild The Lunch, the first online marketplace for conference calls and curated group discussions.
- Christina Zentmayer: Grammy Award-winning jazz singer and songwriter, known for her stylistic blend of blues, soul, R&B and jazz/funk.
- Giulia Zentmayer: Italian-born cookbook author, whose recipes are strongly influenced by her Southern Italian heritage.
- Georg Zentmayer: Austrian operatic tenor, who appeared at the Zurich Opera House, the Hamburg State Opera, and Strasbourg Opera House.