Surname Griesmaier - Meaning and Origin
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Griesmaier: What does the surname Griesmaier mean?
The last name Griesmaier is a Germanic/Swiss-German name meaning “grain-heap-holder” or “grain-stacker”. It is derived from the combination of two words – Gris, which means “grain”, and Maier which means “stacker” or “holder”. This name likely originated in Germany or Switzerland and was likely used to designate someone who worked in a grain-related profession or even worked as a farmer.
In modern times, the surname Griesmaier is still common in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. It is also found in other countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. There are numerous variations of the name, such as Griesmayer, Griesmair, Griesmer, and Griesmeier.
The Griesmaier name is likely derived from a long line of farmers or millers who would have handled grain and other grains during their time. It is a very fitting name for someone who worked in the industry, as it refers both to the grain-harvesting and storage process, and to those who may have watered, transported, and processed the grain. The name is still common all over the world today and is a reminder of a rich farming and milling heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisGriesmaier: Where does the name Griesmaier come from?
The last name Griesmaier is most commonly found in Germany today. It is an unusually uncommon name in other countries, primarily due to its German origin. The name likely originated among German nobility, although the exact one is unclear.
Griesmaier is a German surname derived from the Old German phrase “greis maire”, meaning “gray-haired” or “spirit of the old man”. It is likely that the name was used originally to denote a person of a certain age or a older, wise figure.
The name is most heavily concentrated in Southern Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. According to data from the Central Institute of Statistics at the University of Mainz, Griesmaier is currently the 4,402nd most common surname in Germany.
Griesmaiers are also found in moderate numbers in Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. A small number of Griesmaier's also remain in Russia. Beyond that, there are only around a hundred or so Griesmaiers around the world.
In German, Griesmaier is commonly written as Grünmaier or Griesmeier. In Austria it is also written as Greisdorf, Gremer, and Grimmer. In the United States, Grünmaier is the most common spelling, often followed by Greisman and Griesman.
Variations of the surname Griesmaier
The Griesmaier surname is an old Bavarian name derived from the Latin term 'Grimoarius' which means 'Attendant to the woods' or 'Woodsman.' Variations of the Griesmaier surname include Griesmeier, Griesmeyer, Griesmaier, Griesemann, and Griemayer.
Griesmaier is a spelling variation of the more common German surname Griesmeier. Griesmeier is derived from the Medieval German masculine given name Gricmar, which is composed of the elements gris, meaning 'grey', and meri, meaning 'famous' or 'illustrious.' Griesmeier means 'grey famous' or 'illustrious grey'. This surname likely originated as a nickname for a person with a particularly grey head of hair or a particularly distinguished character.
Other related surnames include the spellings Grismer and Griesmayer. Grismer is derived from the Medieval German masculine given name Gricmar, which is composed of the same elements as Griesmeier. This surname was probably taken from a village called Grismer which is located in the modern state of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. Griesmayer is derived from the Germanic memeber name Grismere, which is composed of the elements gris, meaning 'grey', and mare, meaning 'marsh' or 'fen'. This surname likely represents an origin near a body of water which was known for being particularly grey.
The Griesmaier surname is among one of the oldest recorded German surnames, appearing in records dating back to 1267. Those who bear the surname today almost exclusively live in Germany, but due to emigration there are also a decent number of Griesmaier descendants in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Griesmaier
- Max Griesmaier: German mountain biker who competes in cross-country and enduro races.
- Daniel Griesmaier: Austrian skeleton racer who competed in the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics.
- Edgar Griesmaier: Hungarian decathlete who competed in the 1983 World Championships.
- Alex Griesmaier: Australian water polo player who won a gold medal in the men’s competitions at the 2014 World Cup.
- Christopher Griesmaier: American professional volleyball player who works for the Puerto Rico Voleibol club.
- Michael Griesmaier: American track and field athlete who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.
- Sabine Griesmaier: German alpine skier who won three medals in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
- Daniela Griesmaier: Austrian freestyle skier who competed in the 2004 Winter Olympics.
- Jörg Griesmaier: German basketball player who played professionally for teams like the Gotha Rockets and the Junior Lakers.
- Marianne Griesmaier: Austrian athlete who gained notoriety for becoming the first woman to win a medal in a World Cup Discus event.