Surname Birkemeier - Meaning and Origin

Birkemeier: What does the surname Birkemeier mean?

The last name Birkemeier is of German origin, a family name commonly found in the northern regions of Germany. It usually originates from a place-name and means “dweller by the birch tree meadow”. The root words in the surname are "Birke," meaning "birch," and "Meier," meaning "meadow" or "landowner."

The nature of the surname suggests that its original bearer was a landowner living beside or near a birch tree meadow. Further, it is speculated that the original place with this name may have been one with an abundance of birch trees located near a clearing. It is likely that the first Birkemeier family member derived their name from the place they lived or their occupation associated with the area.

The family name has since spread across German-speaking Europe, most notably in Germany, but also Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and the Czech Republic. Surnames associated with this name include Birkmeier, Birkmeyer, Bierkemeier, Bierkmeier, Bierkemier, Bierkamier, Bierkemeyr, and Bierksmeyr.

Today, the descendant of the Birkemeier family are proud to carry this name and honor their heritage. The Birkemeier name continues to be popular in Germany, a testament to the legacy of the original family, who are most likely the first to bear its name. The descendants of the Birkemeier family can trace their roots to a place full of birch trees and a clearing, and are proud to hold on to this heritage.

Birkemeier: Where does the name Birkemeier come from?

The last name Birkemeier is most commonly found today in Germany, but is also found in other countries in Europe where German immigrants settled. Those countries include the United States, Canada, and countries of the former Soviet Union.

In Germany, the name is mostly associated with cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. Its origin is from the Middle High German meaning “birch wood”, and Birkemeier came to be used to refer to those who lived close to a birch wood.

The distribution of the name in Germany today is highest in North Rhine-Westphalia at 28%, followed by Lower Saxony at 9%, Bavaria at 8%, and other states making up the remainder.

In the United States, the most common states of residence are Pennsylvania, California, Wisconsin, New York, Illinois, and Kansas. Each of those states is home to more than 1,000 people with the last name Birkemeier.

Canadians with the last name Birkemeier are most likely to be found in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, with some numbers scattered across the rest of the provinces.

It seems that wherever German immigrants settled, their descendants spread the name Birkemeier. It continues to be both a well-known name in its nation of origin, as well as having spread to many nations around the world.

Variations of the surname Birkemeier

Birkemeier is a German surname which may be spelled and pronounced in several ways depending on the particular region and country. It can be spelled Birkmeier, Berkemeyer, Berkemeyer and Birkmeier. Slight variations may also be seen in some spelling, such as Bierkemeier, Burkmeirer, Burkmeyer, Barkmeier, Berkmeijer, Birckmeijer, Berkemair, Birkmeir, Birchmeir or Burkheim. Other closely related surnames might include Birkemier, Bergmeir, Burgemeier, Birkemer, Beirkemair, Berkemier, Burckmeyer, Burmeister, Bergmeijer or Burckmair.

The origin of the surname comes from the Germanic personal name “Bero” (also found as Ber, Bern, Berno, Berh and Beir) which was usually combined with a second name to form a patronymic or, in the case of Birkemeier, a toponymic. The ending ‘meier’ or ‘meijer’ is a place name, and could refer to an area rich in birch trees, thus giving the name Birkemeier.

The origin of this surname has been traced back to the area of Alsace-Lorraine in eastern France, and the name likely originated there or in the German states nearby. It is also quite common in some parts of the United States due to German immigrants in the 1800s.

Today, the Birkemeier surname is most common in Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and parts of Poland. It is not a particularly common surname in North America.

Famous people with the name Birkemeier

• Pat Birkemeier, former American football player and tight end for the Green Bay Packers
• Kurt Birkemeier, German educator and director of numerous scientific institutes
• Ken Birkemeier, paintball player and founder of a prominent paintball manufacturer
• Sara Birkemeier, American actress and film producer
• Phillip Birkemeier, German editor and author
• Armin Birkemeier, German political scientist and professor
• Jean Birkemeier, American sportswriter and broadcaster
• Christopher Birkemeier, American swimmer and multiple time individual NCAA champion
• Maria Birkemeier, German Olympic rower
• Mandy Birkemeier, American baseball coach and former player in the National Fastpitch softball league

Other surnames

Birkemeyer