Surname Heitmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Heitmayr: What does the surname Heitmayr mean?
The last name Heitmayr is of German and Jewish-Ashkenazic origins. It is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German words “heit” which means “tailor” and “meiger” which means “mayor.” A person with the last name Heitmayr was likely descended from someone who worked in a municipal capacity as a tailor. As a coat of arms, the Heitmayr family crest typically features a black and white checked pattern indicative of a tailor’s profession. Throughout the generations, the Heitmayrs have been successful in many fields. Notable bearers of the name are Johann Leopold Heitmayr (1732-1801), an Austrian composer and guitarist, and Ignaz Heitmayr (1772-1840), an Austrian legal scholar.
The Heitmayr surname is found primarily in countries that were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 19th century, such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Austria. In those areas, the name typically appears as Heitmayer, Haytmayer or Hetmayr. The name has also expanded to the United States, where it is sometimes transliterated as Haytman, Heitman, Heitmann or Haytmayr. Regardless of the spelling, the surname Heitmayr has been passed down through generations, passing on stories of a crafty ancestor who once held a position of importance within his community.
Order DNA origin analysisHeitmayr: Where does the name Heitmayr come from?
The last name Heitmayr is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, though there are small pockets of people with the name in countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. As of 2020, some of the largest clusters of Heitmayr are to be found in Bavaria, the most populous region of Germany. This is thought to be partly due to the historical roots of the name. Records of the family date back as far as the 12th century, when it is believed to have been a predominantly noble surname. Over the centuries, many of the Heitmayrs moved to nearby countries, including Switzerland and the Czech Republic, before eventually settling on other continents.
In contemporary times, the overall population of people with the Heitmayr surname is fairly small, estimated to be around 500 people worldwide. However, if the offspring of those in the surname are included, the number reaches into the tens of thousands. This is due to many Heitmayrs going on to have large families, ensuring the name was passed down to the next generation.
Variations of the surname Heitmayr
The Heitmayr surname has several alternate variants, spellings, and surnames all stemming from the same origin. The most common variant of Heitmayr is Heimayer, which is largely used across the Germanic regions. Additionally, Heitmeier, Heitmaier, Heidmair, and Heitmaier are all valid variants of the surname.
Outside of the Germanic area, spellings of Heitmayr such as Heydemor, Heydemoor, Heydeamer, Heitmair, Hecmair, and Heidtmair are all also used to varying degrees. Similarly, the surname is often seen spelled as Heidemayer, Heitemeyer, Heidemier, and Heitemeier as well.
In some cases, the surname has also be adapted to Heitmair-Deininger, Heitmayer-Knab, Heidemeyer-Wilhelm, and Heidemeyer-Krasser. These usually refer to some type of patronymic origin, and indicate a link to someone from the Heitmaier or other related lines.
In early documents, the surname was sometimes shortened to "Haim" or "Haimer," a form of the original appellation. It was also sometimes seen written as "Haimmaier" or "Haimmeyer" which indicate the Austrian or Bavarian origins of the surname.
Overall, the Heitmayr surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames that all have the same origin. Despite the various forms the name has taken, all of these terms refer to the same ancestral group, and are all variants of the same name.
Famous people with the name Heitmayr
- Darius Heitmayr, a professional German football player
- Simone Heitmayr, a noted Austrian writer
- Audrey Heitmayr, an acclaimed American actress
- Joe Heitmayr, a former professional baseball player
- Celine Heitmayr, an established German fashion designer
- Thorsten Heitmayr, a celebrated German artist
- Dieter Heitmayr, an esteemed Austrian psychologist
- Alan Heitmayr, an esteemed American composer
- Michaela Heitmayr, a renowned German chef
- Werner Heitmayr, a prominent Austrian architect