Surname Kielmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Kielmeier: What does the surname Kielmeier mean?
The last name Kielmeier is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Middle High German words kiele (kiln) and meier (mayor). In early times, a mayor was responsible for the kilns in his area and so the name literally means “mayor of a kiln.” Thus, Kielmeier is a occupational name belonging to the class of hereditary surnames that refer to a specific profession.
In early records, the Kielmeier name is associated with many noble families, including those of Austria, Prussia, and Bavaria, that distinguished themselves through their service in the military or government.
The spelling of the name has varied over the centuries from Keilmeier to Kielmeier. In modern times, people with this surname typically reside in Germany, the United States, and parts of Canada.
The Kielmeier name can be found in numerous records ranging from coats of arms to baptism records that date back to the 15th century. Additionally, this surname appears in published works, including a latin manuscript from 1731, a book from 1786, a play from 1790, and a poem from 1797.
To this day, Kielmeiers have helped to shape their societies in countless ways. From contributing to military and government service to excelling in fields ranging from business to science, Kielmeiers have proudly carried on the legacy of their distinguished ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisKielmeier: Where does the name Kielmeier come from?
The last name Kielmeier is a very old German name, but it remains relatively common in Germany today. The majority of people sharing the name Kielmeier live in the south of Germany, including Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Hesse.Kielmeier is one of those “surnames of the Fatherland” that the National Socialists adopted when they came to power in the 1930s, as part of their ideal to create a uniform German national identity.
Kielmeier is a habitational name, derived from the German place name Kielmeier which is found in some areas of southern Germany. It began to be used as a surname in the late 15th century when people bearing the name were recorded as living in the area. It then gradually spread around the region and is now found more widely in Germany and other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland.
In the US, the name Kielmeier is far less common, as many German immigrants to the US changed their names to fit the American traditions. For those who kept their names, the vast majority settled in Pennsylvania and other states in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Whatever its origins, the name Kielmeier appears to have stood the test of time, and it is still found among today's German population. With its long history, it is likely to remain in the German language for centuries to come.
Variations of the surname Kielmeier
The surname Kielmeier is believed to have numerous variants, spellings, and combinations with other surnames that are all of the same origin. Some of the more popular variations of this name include Kielmeir, Kiehlmeier, Kühlmeier, Kielmeyer, Kielmayer, and Kielmair. Researched spellings of this name include Köhlmeier and Kehlmeier, as well as Köllmeyer and Köllemeier.
The surname is believed to have its origin in the German word "Kiel" which means a type of ship's hull form. This form of the surname most often indicated the occupation of a boatbuilder and seaman, or the tracing of lineage from a seafaring family.
In its various forms, the Kielmeier surname has been found in many parts of Germany, including modern-day Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Baden-Württemberg. It has also been found in Austria, Switzerland, and elsewhere in Europe.
In some cases, the surname has been combined with other names over the centuries to form a new surname. Common combinations of the Kielmeier name with other surnames include Kielmeierhoff, Kielmeierhofer, Kielmeiersauer, Kielmeierskranz, and Kielmeier-Ehrnsberger, among others.
Overall, the Kielmeier surname is often found with several variations, both in spelling and combined with other surnames. While its initial origin is believed to be from a boatbuilding family in Germany, its various forms have persisted and spread into other countries over time.
Famous people with the name Kielmeier
- Georg Kielmeier (1931-2008), German lawyer, served in the Bavarian State Parliament from 1978–1986
- Florian Kielmeier (born 1977), Austrian ski mountaineer
- Jörg Kielmeier, German actor
- Jerry Kielmeier (1902–1974), American professional baseball player
- Maria Kielmeier (1925–2006), Austrian politician
- Peter Kielmeier (1907–1972), German painter
- Florian Kielmeier (born 1997), German ski mountaineer
- Dr. Carl Kielmeier (born 1979), Austrian professor of Chemical Engineering
- Johanna Kielmeier (born 1981), German actress
- Josephine Kielmeier (born 1969), German artist and painter