Surname Vordermayr - Meaning and Origin
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Vordermayr: What does the surname Vordermayr mean?
The last name Vordermayr is German and is derived from the word 'vorder', which means ‘before’ and 'meer' meaning ‘lake’. As such, it is believed to refer to a place or region near a lake. It is also thought to be an occupational name, derived from the Germans who dug up sand and clay from the lake as a way of earning a living.
The name is also associated with a variety of different dialects from the surrounding areas of the lake, such as Bavarian, Swabian, and Cismar. It is believed that the name spread from the region with emigration and also with the help of the military, in which many soldiers of the name Vordermayr served.
Due to its roots in various dialects, the name has a variety of spellings. Some examples include Vordermaier, Vordermaier, Vordermayer, Vordermeir, Vordermeer, and Verdermayer.
Overall, the surname Vordermayr is connected with lakes, sand-diggers, and military service back from its early history in Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisVordermayr: Where does the name Vordermayr come from?
The surname Vordermayr is common in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, especially Austria and Germany. According to one source, the name is found most frequently in German-speaking countries, particularly Austria, where it is ranked at 19,645 out of a population of 8.7 million people. The last name is also common in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Hungary.
The origin of the name is Germanic and translates to mean “the one ahead” or “the leader.” This was likely a title that was passed down from one generation to the next, emphasizing the importance of the family’s eldest son. The surname is also found in many different spellings, such as Vordermaier, Waldmaier, or Volkmaier.
The first recorded usages of the name occur in parts of Austria and Bavaria, dating back to the 15th century. During this time, the Vordermayr family had become a powerful political force and were powerful in the court of the Austrian emperor. The family also lent their name to a number of places; for example, there is a Vordermayr Square in Graz, Austria.
Today, the last name Vordermayr is still prevalent in all the countries mentioned above. Though its spelling may differ from time to time, the surname’s history and legacy will live on in these parts of Europe for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Vordermayr
The surname Vordermayr is a German name that is derived from vor, meaning 'ahead', and the common occupational suffix -mayer, meaning 'craftsman' or 'farmer', thus literally translating to 'ahead craftsman' or 'ahead farmer'.
Variant spellings of this surname include Vordemayr, Vordermayer, Vordermann, and Vordermaier. Surnames with a similar origin include Vorammer, Vormayr, Vorwermayr, Vormeier, Vordemayer, and Vordermeier.
Variants of the surname in other languages include Vorderwöhmer (Yiddish) and Vorderwimmer (German). Vordermair is a Scottish variant, and Dutch and northern German variants include Vorderemmer and Vardermmer.
Common variants of the surname in Austria include Vorgrimm and Vorgrim, while similar surnames in Switzerland include Voramlin and Vorgrimmer. There is also a rare spelling variation in Switzerland known as Vorgramar.
The surname has undergone numerous spelling variations over the centuries, owing to the lack of uniform spelling conventions in the past. Many of these are now obsolete, and the most common spelling is Vordermayer. However, as people migrated from German-speaking countries and adopted new language conventions, the spelling of the surname was also adapted to fit the new language, creating many more variants of the same surname.
Famous people with the name Vordermayr
- Edward Vordermayr, the co-founder and CEO of digital marketing company, IMAQ.
- Anton Vordermayr, an Austrian sculptor and painter.
- Jakob Vordermayr, an Austrian professor of Statistics and Probability Theory at the University of Vienna.
- Maria Vordermayr, the wife of the late American actor Karl Malden.
- Peter Vordermayr, an Austrian architect.
- Albert Vordermayr, an Austrian musicologist and professor emeritus at the University of Vienna.
- Sarah Vordermayr, an Austrian girl who was an integral part of the ‘Avalanche Courses’ during the First World War.
- Georg Vordermayr, a German-Austrian optician who developed and patented the anastigmatic lens in the 19th century.
- Hermann Vordermayr, an Austrian operatic tenor who was best known for his role as Pedrillo in Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro'.
- Stephanie Vordermayr, an Austrian figure skater who competed in the 1991 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.