Surname Meinersen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Meinersen: What does the surname Meinersen mean?
The last name Meinersen (also spelled Meinersen, Meiners, Meinex) is a popular German surname and is derived from the Middle High German term 'Meinerse' which means 'Man of Mine'. This term was used to indicate ownership, with the term 'Meinersen' literally meaning 'My man' or 'My people'.
The surname Meinersen has origins in the Middle Ages, acquired by families who lived in northern Germany. It later became established in other parts of Europe including Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
In modern times, the last name Meinersen is most commonly found in Germany. It is also common in other northern and eastern European countries such as Sweden, Lithuania, and Finland. The popularity of this surname is also evident in the United States, where it can be found among those of American-German, Polish, and Dutch heritage.
In Germany, the last name Meinersen is often associated with hard work and loyalty. The name can represent a person who is reliable, strong, and dependable. In other parts of the world, the name is also associated with good-natured humor and good luck.
The origin of the last name Meinersen has certainly stood the test of time, remaining an important part of many families' history for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMeinersen: Where does the name Meinersen come from?
The last name Meinersen is most common in Germany today. It is relatively widespread in the northern regions, such as Lower Saxony, Hamburg, and Schleswig-Holstein. It is most commonly found in concentrations around the cities of Hanover, Hamburg and Bremen.
In Germany, this surname was first documented as early as the 13th century in the Lower Saxony region. It is believed to have originated as a local name for someone who lived or worked in the Mienersche settlement. Similarly, the name was likely derived from the Old German word for an area of marshland.
In more recent centuries, records of the name have spread across all parts of Germany and beyond. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the name followed immigrants to other countries, particularly to parts of North America such as the United States and Canada. It is also quite common in some other European nations, including Denmark and the Netherlands.
Regardless of its origin, the name Meinersen is now a widespread surname across the world, though its greatest concentration in modern times is still within Germany.
Variations of the surname Meinersen
The surname Meinersen is of Germanic origin and derives from the Middle Low German term Mener or Meinheer and the suffix sen, meaning "[son] of the". Variants and spellings of the name Meinersen include Meinhersen, Meiners, Meinerz, Meinhörsen, Meinhirchen, and Menerz.
Meinersen, also spelled Meinhersen, descends from men, referring to a feudal lord or founder, and hirsen which literally means "little lord" or "lordling". This suggests that the people with this surname are directly related to a feudal lord or founder of the family line.
The surnames Meners, Menert, Menerts, Menters, Mentersen, Menherzen, Menhersen, Menhorsts, Menhortsen, Menier, Menies, Meniers, Menihorsen, Menirz, Menis, Meniser, Menizers, and Menzers, can all be traced back to the same root name of Meinersen. The name Meinersen has developed some alternate spellings such as Meentjes, Meentzschez, Meenen, Meerhoffz, Meeringen, and Meerse. It has also been shortened or Anglicized to Theiner, Theinhersen, and Theinersen.
Surnames related to the Meinersen name include Minersen, Moenhersen, Muhrsen, and Minnaers. These surnames were associated with the same clan and are therefore all related and share a common ancestor. They may have diverged into different surnames over time due to regional variations in pronunciation or because of migration.
The Meinersen line may have also been adopted by families who changed their surname to Meinersen in order to strengthen their connection to this line and to gain prestige through its status.
Famous people with the name Meinersen
- Nils Meinersen: Founder and CEO of Stylight, a fashion-tech company
- Michael Meinersen: Former solar energy entrepreneur and the inventor of a film coating process
- Helmut Meinersen: Former Swiss footballer
- Hans-Werner Meinersen: Late German financial expert and entrepreneur
- Maren Meinersen: German model
- Vincent Meinersen: Dutch sculptor and graphic artist
- Matthias Meinersen: German cinematographer
- Paul Meinersen: German film director
- Matt Meinersen: Canadian entrepreneur and founder of MindPath AI
- Ingmar Meinersen: German Magic: The Gathering player and judge