Surname Paulsmeyer - Meaning and Origin

Paulsmeyer: What does the surname Paulsmeyer mean?

The last name Paulsmeyer is German in origin, derived from the personal name Paulus. It was common for Medieval Germans to develop patronymic names based on the names of the fathers. So, the Paulsmeyer surname likely originated from a paternal ancestor with the first name Paul.

The earliest known record of the Paulsmeyer surname dates back to the 13th century, when a man named Bambergen von Paulsmere was listed in the Fruhmittelalterliche Adels-Ministerialsfamilien in Nordwestdeutschland.

Paulsmeyer is less common than other surnames such as Mueller and Schmidt. It is most frequently found in Germany, particularly the region of Westphalia, and also in Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Paulsmeyer is a relatively uncommon last name, but it still holds a lot of history. As the original bearers of the name migrated throughout Europe, the name spread and developed different branches. It has likely been adapted and even changed in forms and pronunciations over the centuries. Despite its scarcity, the last name Paulsmeyer is still a proud part of the Germanic legacy.

Paulsmeyer: Where does the name Paulsmeyer come from?

The last name Paulsmeyer can be found throughout the United States. According to the US Census Bureau’s 2020 data, the surname Paulsmeyer is most common in Missouri and Iowa, with Missouri accounting for over 46% of the population. The cities of St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri each have significantly more Paulsmeyers than any other city in the US. Texas and Illinois are the states with the next highest concentrations of Paulsmeyers.

Paulsmeyers have also migrated to other countries in North and Central America and Europe. In Canada, Paulsmeyers can be found in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. In Mexico, the last name is most common in the states of Tamaulipas, Campeche, andHidalgo. In Europe, Paulsmeyers have settled in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

The Paulsmeyer family has a long and varied history in the United States, with many descendents coming from various countries. The original Paulsmeyer’s migrated to the United States in the late 1700's from what is now Germany and Switzerland. From then on, the family has spread across the United States, settling in various cities and states. Today, Paulsmeyers can be found in nearly every part of the country, making it one of the more common surnames in the United States.

Variations of the surname Paulsmeyer

Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Paulsmeyer include:

Pawlmeyer, Palmesier, Pawlemsier, Paulsmayr, Polsmear, Polsmeier, Polsmyer, Pullmeyer, Pullmier, Pullumsier, Pulsamier, Palmsmeier, Pollsmeier, Paulsmier, Pullumsmyer, Pulsamer, Paulsmair, Paullsmiere, Poulsmeier, Paulsmeyr, Paulsmier, Polsamer, and many more.

Paulsmeyer is a German and Dutch origin surname. It is derived from the combination of two words, ‘Paul’ and ‘smeyer’, where Paul means ‘small’ or ‘humble’ and ‘smeyer’ is the old German word for farmer or agricultural laborer, thus suggesting the surname’s origin as one who is a humble farmer. The surname also found popularity in medieval times as a descriptive name for someone of a meek nature.

Over time, Paulsmeyer has spread through Europe and its variants have led to spelling differences in various countries. In England, it became Polsamer, in France it became Palmesier, in Germany it became Pawlmeyer, and in The Netherlands it became Paulsmayr. In Germany and The Netherlands, the variant is also commonly written with double vowels such as Pawlemsier and Pullumsier.

Due to the various spellings and variants, the surname Paulsmeyer is difficult to trace in history, but it is believed to have first appeared in Germany in the early 1500s. It is said to have been first used by a German farmer who was known as Pauls Meyer and later adopted by other branches of families living in the same area.

Famous people with the name Paulsmeyer

• Andy Paulsmeyer: former MLB outfielder
• Paul Paulsmeyer: former NFL defensive end
• Henry Paulsmeyer: politician representing Illinois in the Illinois House of Representatives
• Lucas Paulsmeyer: current collegiate swimmer
• Robert Paulsmeyer: public artist and sculptor
• Phil Paulsmeyer: former baseball coach

Other surnames

Paulsmeier