Surname Faltermayr - Meaning and Origin
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Faltermayr: What does the surname Faltermayr mean?
The last name Faltermayr is a German surname of noble origins that can be derived from the words for "falter" which means "falconer" and "mayr" which means "mayor". Historically, this surname likely indicated either a family whose head was a falconer, a position of status in medieval German society, or a family whose head was a municipal mayor or political leader. In modern Germany, the Faltermayr surname is not especially common.
The most prominent bearer of the surname is Joseph Faltermayr, the Bavarian historian and Roman Catholic dean who lived from 1830 to 1901. Other famous Faltermayrs include Albertus Faltermayer, a 19th-century Italian diplomat, and the renowned Austrian lawyer Heiner Faltermayer, who has practiced as a barrister for over 30 years.
The Faltermayrs have a long history in Bavaria, but they also have a presence in other nearby countries. In Poland, for example, there are records of the surname "Faltrymayr" in a local church register from 1787. Similarly, the surname appears in Austria in records from the 1700s and 1800s.
Overall, the Faltermayr surname appears to be relatively rare in the modern world, but its long history indicates a once powerful and respected German family. Although most modern users of the name will not be able to automatically trace their ancestry back to the nobility of the original bearers of the surname, the name still carries connotations of respectability and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisFaltermayr: Where does the name Faltermayr come from?
The last name Faltermayr can be found in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland today. It is a German-language surname, and is a combination of the words "falt" and "mayer", which can be translated to mean "folding farmer", which suggests that the original holders of this name were likely people who owned and operated farms.
In Austria, the last name Faltermayr is most commonly found in the Tyrol region, where the name has been recorded since the 17th century. In Germany, the last name is most commonly found in the northern states such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. In Switzerland, the name is also found in the canton of Zürich.
The last name Faltermayr may be derived from a Middle High German verb, "falten", which means "to fold". This suggests that the holder of this name may have been a farmer who used efficient farming methods such as crop rotation.
It is also possible that the last name Faltermayr has a more modern origin in the concept of a “faltmair”, which is an Austrian term used for a specialist in the construction of folding chairs. Similarly, in Germany, the term “faltermayer” is used to refer to a furniture maker who specializes in folding furniture such as beds and tables.
Whichever origin is correct, it is clear that the last name Faltermayr is quite common in parts of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and that the original meaning of the name is clear: folding farmer.
Variations of the surname Faltermayr
The surname Faltermayr has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common are Feltermayer, Feltermair, Baultermair, and Goltermayer. Other variants include Faaltermair, Faaltermayer, Feltermekur, Veltmaner, Faltmaner, Feltermair, Valtermayer, Valtermair, Valtermeir, Foltzmer, Falltermayer, Faltmer, and Falltmair.
The surname is either German or Jewish in origin. It can be derived from German words "falt", which means digestive action, and "Meier" meaning village magistrate or steward. Therefore, the surname means "village magistrate for food".
In Jewish heritage, Faltermayr was adopted as a Hebrew surname derived from the personal name Faltermayer. This is a combination of the Hebrew and Yiddish words for "fall" and "mayer", meaning277 "keeper/ guardian of the lowlands".
In the Netherlands, the surname is found as Veltermayer and in Hungary as Voltermayer. In Poland, it is spelled as Foltermayer, Waltermayer, and Woltmayer.
Variants of the name appear across Europe and beyond, including America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In these places the name may have been Anglicized, with adapted spellings such as Faltermire, Faltermeyer, Faltmeyer, Falltmeyer. Faltmeyer, Falkmier, Fallmeyer.
Famous people with the name Faltermayr
- George Faltermayr: Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics.
- April Faltermayr: Australian professional golfer.
- Robert Faltermayr: Austrian sculptor best known for creating figurines.
- Mathias Faltermayr: German author and printer.
- Fritz Faltermayr: German-born American philologist, lecturer, and writer, specialized in studies of medieval German literature.
- Susi Faltermayr: Austrian ski mountaineer.
- Dr. Pedro Faltermayr: Spanish paediatrician and Professor in Children's Health at the University of Granada, Spain.
- Hermann Faltermayr: German Cameraman and Studio Producer in ZDF post-war Germany.
- Eberhard Faltermayr: Austrian Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Sustainability Expert.
- Carola Faltermayr: German Politician and member of the Free Voter's Union, Bavaria.