Surname Meiler - Meaning and Origin

Meiler: What does the surname Meiler mean?

The last name Meiler is a German last name with origins dating to the Middle Ages, and is derived from the German word 'meiler', which roughly translates to 'miller.' It is an occupational surname, indicating that the family was associated with the milling industry in some way. For example, this family name might have been adopted by someone who owned a mill, or someone who worked in a mill, or even someone who lived in a nearby town that was associated with a mill.

In modern times, the Meiler surname is most prevalent in Germany and parts of eastern Europe, though it can be found in other countries as well. In the United States, it is one of the more uncommon names, but there are still a significant number of families with the name. It is often confused with similar-sounding last names such as Meier and Meyer.

In addition to the occupational origin of the Meiler surname, it could also be derived from the personal name 'Meißer,' which was the medieval German spelling of 'Matthew.' This origin is less likely however, since the surname is not found in areas where the first name 'Matthew' is more popular, such as the United States and English-speaking countries.

For the most part, the Meiler surname is associated with its occupational roots as a miller. It indicates that the family was likely very involved in the local milling industry at some point in history, and shares a connection with both the name and the profession. Throughout the centuries, it has persisted as a German last name and has spread to many other parts of the world, both within and outside of Germany.

Meiler: Where does the name Meiler come from?

The last name Meiler is a German surname most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It can also be found in the United States due to German immigrants who arrived during the 17th and 18th centuries.

In Germany, Meiler is primarily found in the regions of Bodensee, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Saxony. Bavaria is the leading region with over 1,600 of the Meiler surname.

In Austria, Meiler is found mainly in the states of Vorarlberg and Tirol, and in Switzerland, located primarily in the regions of St. Gallen and Zurich. In the United States, the states with the most Meilers are Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Texas. Meiler is the 43,584th most common name in the United States, where it is estimated that 3,700 individuals bear the surname.

Today, the Meiler surname is still prominent in the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as the United States where more than 3,700 individuals carry the surname.

Variations of the surname Meiler

The surname Meiler has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Meiler, Meilers, Maylert, Meyler, Mayler, Meylerh, Mairler, Maieler, Meyhle, Maierle, Maerle, Meyerle, Meilor, Meylerth, Meygler, Meyhling, Mäyler, Mailer and Möyller.

Meiler is a German surname, believed to have been derived from the Old German words 'mail' or 'meil', which generally referred to someone who was an important person within a spiritual or religious order. The name may also have been derived from the Old German word 'meilot', meaning 'favorable', which was a personal name meaning one who was well-liked.

The spelling variations of Meiler are believed to have arisen due to those who recorded the name's historical events and documents not being familiar with the language that was spoken at the time. The phonetic spelling of Meiler was likely influenced by dialects that tended to be spoken in various regions of Germany.

Meiler, Meilers, Maylert and Maieler are believed to be variant spellings of this surname, while Meygler, may also be a variant spelling that arises from an alternate root related to the Middle High German words ‘meigeler’ or ‘meigelerin’ which referred to someone who was associated with a church or churchyard.

The surnames Meyhle, Maierle, Maerle, Meyerle, Meylerth, Meyhling and Möyller are believed to be variant forms of Meiler that evolved from the German personal name Mey or Meile, which means 'youngest son'.

The surname Mayler may have been derived from the Latin word 'maliur' referring to someone who was a magistrate or mayoral figure.

In summary, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Meiler include Meiler, Meilers, Maylert, Meyler, Mayler, Meylerh, Mairler, Maieler, Meyhle, Maierle, Maerle, Meyerle, Meilor, Meylerth, Meygler, Meyhling, Mäyler, Mailer and Möyller.

Famous people with the name Meiler

• Andreas Meiler: German physician and medical researcher specializing in hypertension, lipidology and cardiology.
• Jesko Meiler: German sprinter who held the German records in both the 100 m and 200 m sprint events between 1922 and 2014.
• Günther Meiler: German pole vaulter who won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics and is still the German pole vault record holder.
• Heinz Meiler: German bobsledder and Olympic gold medalist in 1964.
• Hans Joachim Meiler: German Red Cross official who performed humanitarian work in Lithuania during World War II.
• Kate Meiler: American actres and activist best known for her roles in the films “The Twilight Saga” and “We Bought a Zoo”.
• Heinrich Meiler: German journalist, archaeologist and historian who specialized in Middle Eastern cultures and religions.
• Paul Meiler: German composer and conductor, best known for his choral works.
• Ludwig Meiler: German civilian aviation pilot in the 1920s and 1930s who was the first person to successfully fly from Lithuania to Germany.
• Wilhelm Meiler: German lawyer and judge who served as the President of the Constitutional Court in Freistadt until his retirement in 1870.

Other surnames

Meile