Surname Dahlmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Dahlmeier: What does the surname Dahlmeier mean?
The surname Dahlmeier is a German name derived from the Middle High German words ‘dahl’ meaning ‘valley’ and ‘meier’ meaning ‘mayor’, making the name essentially translate to ‘valley mayor’. This surname is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages when feudal lords designated mayors for small settlements and villages in the valleys throughout Germany.
In its earliest recorded form the surname is indicated in records from Bavaria during the 14th century when the first assumption of the name was Ulhausen de Walme, a mayor of a village in Bavaria also known as Walme. This surname would change over the years to Waldmeyer, Walmey, Waldmee, and finally Dahlmeier.
Today, the Dahlmeier family is widespread throughout Germany and also the United States. The name has a long and proud record of service to Germany, with many Dahlmeiers having served in the German military. There are many Dahlmeiers living in the United States, primarily in the Midwest, Southwest and East Coast regions.
The Dahlmeier family name today is still widely recognized throughout Germany and the United States, and is seen as a prominent and proud family name with a long history of service to both countries.
Order DNA origin analysisDahlmeier: Where does the name Dahlmeier come from?
The last name Dahlmeier is most common in Germany today. According to German-family-names.com, Dahlmeier is the 5th most common last name in Germany and is especially popular in the state of Bavaria. It is estimated that there are over 75,000 people with this surname currently living in Germany.
Dahlmeier is often considered a Bavarian last name, and it is believed to have originated in the Bavarian region. The name is derived from the Old German words for 'great' (dal) and 'meadow/pasture' (mair), and is therefore commonly taken to mean 'great moor' and possibly refer to a large and open area of land.
The name is also common outside of Germany, especially in North America, where it was brought by German immigrants in the 19th century. In the United States, over 2,000 people have the last name Dahlmeier, mostly living in the Midwest and South. Canada also has a Dahlmeier population, with the highest concentration in the province of Ontario.
Overall, the last name Dahlmeier is most common in Germany today, but can also be found in other German-speaking countries as well as across North America.
Variations of the surname Dahlmeier
Dahlmeier is a German surname that is believed to have originated in Bavaria. It is a Habitational name, which means that it was derived from the name of the place where a person once lived or held land. The various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Dahlmeier include: Daalmeier, Dahlmeir, Daelmeier, Dalemeier, Delemeyer, Dalemyer, Delemeijer, Dalmeijer, Dalmier, Daalmeijer, Daelmeijer, Dalmijer, Dallmayer, Dalmayr, Dalmeyer, Dalmyer, Dalmyre, Dohlmeyer, Dohmeyar, Dolemyer and Dolemyre. Many people with the Dahlmeier surname also use the spelling Dahlemeier.
Dahlmeier is a patronymic name, which means that it is derived from the personal name of the father of the initial bearer. It is possible that the original nameholder was descended from someone with the given name Dael, which is a personal name of Germanic origin and means "great".
The variants and alternate spellings of Dahlmeier are rather rare, and the surname has not been widely recorded in other countries aside from Germany. Despite this, it can be found in some old records in places such as the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States.
Famous people with the name Dahlmeier
- Laura Dahlmeier: Laura Dahlmeier is a German biathlon competitor who won a total of seven gold medals and three bronze medals in World Championship and Olympic events between 2011 and 2018.
- Simon Dahlmeier: Simon Dahlmeier is an Italian-German biathlete who won a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championships.
- Felix Dahlmeier: Felix Dahlmeier is an Austrian ski jumper who won the 2016/17 Continental Cup.
- Fabian Dahlmeier: Fabian Dahlmeier is a German nordic combined skier who won gold at the 2016 World Championships.
- Fanny Dahlmeier: Fanny Dahlmeier is a German biathlete who won the silver medal at the 2017 World Championships.
- Gordon Dahlmeier: Gordon Dahlmeier is an American ski jumper who won the silver medal at the 2001 FIS Nordic Combined World Championships.
- Adelheid Dahlmeier: Adelheid Dahlmeier is a German swimmer who won the bronze medal at the 1951 European Championships.
- Friedrich Dahlmeier: Friedrich Dahlmeier was a German attorney and statesman who held several important positions in Prussia and the German Empire.
- Babara Dahlmeier: Barbara Dahlmeier is a German biathlete who competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Sven-Christian Dahlmeier: Sven-Christian Dahlmeier is a former German biathlon competitor who won two medals at the 1982 Biathlon World Championships.