Surname Greiner - Meaning and Origin
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read moreGreiner: What does the surname Greiner mean?
The last name Greiner is a German surname, deriving from the Middle High German word ‘grein’, which means ‘inclined’, ‘slanting’ or ‘sloping’. It likely served as an occupational name for people who worked on uphill inclines, such as slanting roofers. It can also refer to someone who lived in an area that was inclined, such as the side of a hill or mountain.
The surname is mostly concentrated in the German-speaking nations, particularly the federal states of Hesse, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is a common surname across Europe, and can be found in USA, Canada, Australia, and other areas with a high German immigration.
It is believed the surname is quite old and dates back to more than 1000 years. The oldest recorded record of the name is from 1171, when a man named Heinrich von Greiner was mentioned in a record from Würzburg, Bavaria.
The Greiner family is likely descended from early German peasants, who were not recorded in aristocrat or royal records. Despite this, the Greiners have a proud family history. In Germany, relatives often meet up for local events called Familientreffen, where they discuss their familys history.
The surname Greiner reflects a hardworking, reliable disposition. Its meaning remains an important part of the family identity, connecting its members to their former identities as independent laborers.
Order DNA origin analysisGreiner: Where does the name Greiner come from?
Greiner is a last name that is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It is also found in other European countries in much smaller numbers.
The origins of the Greiner name are not certain, but it is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word grein, meaning “to complain” or “to experience pain.”
The name is most common today in Germany, where records show that it first appeared in 1369. Since then, the Greiner name has grown to become fairly widespread throughout the country, with many descendants taking on new variants of the name, such as Grein, Greinerhof, Greinerheini, Greinsbauch, and Greinhaupt.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Greiner name is much less common. The name is not found in either France or the United Kingdom, though there are very small pockets of surname owners in the Netherlands.
Overall, the Greiner surname is most closely associated with Germany and other Central European countries. Its spread throughout Europe happened in the past, primarily during the emigration of German-speaking peoples in the 18th and 19th centuries. To this day, Europe is where the name is most commonly found.
Variations of the surname Greiner
The surname Greiner is a German surname derived from the word “grein” meaning “grin” or “smile”. It is found in various languages and spellings around the world. The common variants and spellings of the surname Greiner include Grieners, Greiners, Grynner, Grainer, Gradner, Grendah, Grenah, Grener, Grynner, Grimminger, Gremmer, Grämmer, Griener, Groener, Grohmann, Gröner, Groiner, Gromer, Grenier, Gruner, and Grunner.
Surnames of the same origin as Greiner include Grieners, Greiners, Grynner, Grainer, Gradner, Grendah, Grenah, Grener, Grynner, Grimminger, Gremmer, Grämmer, Griener, Groener, Grohmann, Gröner, Groiner, Gromer, Grenier, Gruner, and Grunner. Each of these variants or spellings may refer to a different branch of the family, or were adopted in different countries. For example, Grieners may be from Austria, Greiners may be from Germany, and Grynner may be from Switzerland.
In the United States, some families with the surname Greiner may also have its variants: Grainer, Gremmer, Gromer, and Gruner. Similarly, other countries or regions may have adopted other spellings for the surname Greiner, such as Grenier (Portugal, France), Gröner (Poland), Gradner (Czech Republic), or Grohmann (Germany).
Regardless of the spelling or variant, the Greiner surname has strong ties to Germanic origins. It has a strong presence around the world, with each spelling or variant potentially referring to a different branch of the Greiner family.
Famous people with the name Greiner
- Lori Greiner: an American inventor, entrepreneur, and television personality.
- Jonathan Greiner: an American actor, producer, and writer.
- Martin Greiner: a German sculptor and painter.
- Tim Greiner: an American astrophysicist.
- Hans Greiner: a Swiss-based artist and sculptor.
- Sarah Greiner: American actress and dancer.
- Gerhard Greiner: an Austrian composer, conductor, and musicologist.
- Bill Greiner: an American animator and director.
- Alicja Greiner- Classical, Jazz flutist and composer.
- Paul Greiner: a German film maker, producer, composer and musician.