Surname Froschmaier - Meaning and Origin
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Froschmaier: What does the surname Froschmaier mean?
The last name Froschmaier is a German surname derived from two words, “Frosch” which means “frog” and “mai” or “maier” which means “mayor”. It is derived from two professions, one occupation related to water and one occupation related to public administration, thus indicating that it is an occupational surname.
Historically in Germany, there were title-based professions, one of them being “Froschmeister” (Frog-Master). This was a local title given to the appointed officials in charge of dikes, canals and other water-related facilities.
They were also in charge of the harvestment of fish and frogs in the areas, hunting pests and supervising the irrigation systems. Therefore, those who were assigned this occupation got the surname “Froschmaier”.
The other occupational origin of the name in Germany, was the elected mayors of the village or municipality. The bearers of the title of “Maier” (Mayor) or “Meyer” were also assigned the surname “Froschmaier”, as a sign of respect and recognition.
These titles were also found in other countries, such as Switzerland and Austria, where the occupational or title-based surnames industries are quite popular.
In conclusion, Froschmaier is an occupational surname from Germany which indicates that the family belonged to one of two professions related to water and public administration. It is still found in many parts of the world today.
Order DNA origin analysisFroschmaier: Where does the name Froschmaier come from?
The last name Froschmaier is most common in Germany and Austria. According to the data from Forebears, a genealogical research engine, it is the 115,074th most common last name worldwide, of which an estimated 5,753 people carry the name.
In Germany, Froschmaier is the 14,765th most common last name, with an estimated 2,187 bearers of the name. In Austria, the name is surprisingly more popular at 554th, with an estimated 2,614 people carrying the name. In addition, it is also common in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg.
Though the name is quite rare, the origins of Froschmaier are relatively straightforward. The “Frosch” part of the name means “frog” in German and “Maier” means “farmhand” or “bailiff”. Thus, this last name likely meant “frog farmhand” - quite literally. It is probable that the original bearer of the name was employed as a peasant farming frogs for food.
Overall, little else is known about the origin of this somewhat peculiar last name. While it is not very common, the last name Froschmaier today can still be found primarily in Germany and Austria.
Variations of the surname Froschmaier
The surname Froschmaier has various spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Fröschmaier, Fröschmayer, Fröschmeyr, Fröschmeyer, and Froschmayer. The surname could also be written as Froshmaier, Froshmayer, Froshmeyr, and Froshmeyer.
In Germany, the surname Froschmaier is derived from the Middle High German word “Froschmeier”, which is translated to mean “frog keeper”. The job of a Froschmeier was to look after the frogs that were kept in castle moats and fishponds. This profession has its origins in the Middle Ages, when people would keep frogs to provide food and to keep the water of the moats clean.
In Austria, the surnames Fröschmaier or Fröschmeyr most likely derives from an occupational name for a shoemaker. The word “Fröschmeyr”, which can be translated to mean “Frog Maker”, likely originated from this occupation. The people who worked with leather shoes and other leather goods were sometimes referred to as “froemeyer” or “froemsmaa” in German, due to the leather’s resemblance to frog skin.
In France, the surnames Fröschmayer and Froschmayer were derived from the Germanic forename Frosch, meaning “frog”. This surname has spread to the French-speaking countries of Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Lastly, the surnames Froschmaier and Froschmayer have also spread to the United States and Canada. The surname was first recorded in the United States by an immigrant named Johann Georg Froschmaier, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1740.
In conclusion, the surname Froschmaier has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Fröschmaier, Fröschmayer, Fröschmeyr, Fröschmeyer, Froschmayer, Froshmaier, Froshmayer, Froshmeyr, and Froshmeyer. The first known record of the surname is in the United States in 1740 by an immigrant named Johann Georg Froschmaier.
Famous people with the name Froschmaier
- Peter Froschmaier, a German hair stylist
- Daniel Froschmaier, an Austrian artist and former polo player
- Caspar Froschmaier, a German writer and journalist
- Valdemar Froschmaier, a Czech participant of the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Konrad Froschmaier, an Austrian architect
- Tim Froschmaier, a German actor
- Matyas Froschmaier, a Czech hurdler who participated in the 1937 European Athletics Championships
- Zuzana Froschmaier, a Czech rhythmic gymnast who won gold medals at the 2005 European Champions hips
- Anton Froschmaier, an Austrian cabaret artist 10.Jozef Froschmaier, a Slovakian hammer thrower who participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics