Surname Mayerhof - Meaning and Origin

Mayerhof: What does the surname Mayerhof mean?

The last name Mayerhof is a German patronymic name which originated during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old German personal name "Meier", which was derived from the Hebrew biblical name "Mayer" and the German word for "court" or "house": "Hof". The combination of these two words created the name Mayerhof, which literally translates to "Mayer's Court".

This name would have been given to someone who was an official at a local court, or who worked for a local nobleman or a powerful member of the freedman class. In addition, most likely the Mayerhof family had ancestral roots linked to the nobility, since a court official was most likely of nobility stock, or at least of aristocratic heritage. The person would have been a traditional figure in medieval society, with authority and prestige, and his descendants would have been associated with a respected surname.

Mayerhof family members can be found in records stretching back centuries. During the 19th and 20th centuries, many members of the Mayerhof family spread out and relocated to other parts of Europe and the world. These days, the Mayerhof family name can be found in Europe, as well as in parts of Australia, Canada, and the United States. From small villages in Germany to large cities in America, the Mayerhof family name retains its strong sense of tradition and status.

Mayerhof: Where does the name Mayerhof come from?

The last name Mayerhof is most commonly found today in and around Germany, as well as Austria and Switzerland. Mayerhof is a German-language surname most commonly spelled as “Mayerhofen,” with the “en” ending typical of German names.

The name Mayerhof is thought to be of Germanic origin and may refer to a person or family who lived and owned a property in the village of Mayerhof, meaning “Meyers” or “Mayor’s Court” in Old German. German records of the surname date back to 1393, and its variants include Meierhof, Meihof or Meierhof, as well as Mayerhof.

The Mayerhof surname is also used as a Jewish name, and is more frequently found among the Ashkenazi Jewish community of Central and Eastern Europe. Spelling variations of the name include Maierhof, Mayerhoff, and Mayerhoffs.

Today, Mayerhof is mainly found in the regions where Germanic populations are concentrated, such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and small parts of the Czech Republic. It is even found among the German diaspora in the United States and Canada.

Variations of the surname Mayerhof

Mayerhof is a surname that is believed to be of German origin. Variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin for the surname Mayerhof include:

-Maierhof – Maierhofer

-Maiershof – Maierhofen

-Maiershofer

-Mayerhofer – Mayerhoff

-Meyerhof – Meyerhofer

-Myerhoff – Myerhof

-Myerhofer

The meanings of the various spellings of the Mayerhof surname vary, though generally these relate to the importance of a 'meadow' near a house or farm. For example, Maierhof literally translates as 'the Mayor's farm' and Maierhofer as 'one from the Mayor's farm'. Similarly, Mayerhof translates as 'the Mayor's meadow' and Mayerhoff as 'one from the Mayor's meadow'.

Other variants, such as Meyerhof, are derived from Middle High German, much like the english word 'meadow', and suggest a similar meaning. Myerhoff and Myerhofer relates to a similar root word, and likely refers to someone from a meadow (or farm) near a body of water.

Overall, the Mayerhof surname and other variants of the same origin generally point to a meadow or farm being located near to the home of the original bearer of the surname. As such, it is likely that over time, the name has evolved and bifurcated into the various derivatives listed.

Famous people with the name Mayerhof

• Ludwig Mayerhof (1839-1912): Jewish-born German pathologist and physician known for his research into diabetes and cancer.
• Emil von Mayerhof (1862–1934): Jewish-born Austrian surgeon and anatomist who made significant contributions to the science of anatomy.
• Arnold Mayerhof (1872–1927): Jewish-born Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, noted for his research into abnormal psychology.
• Yakov Mayerhof (1877-1940): Jewish-born Russian biochemist who is best known for his research into the metabolism of carbohydrates.
• decon Mayerhof (1907-1990): Dutch Jewish-born artist, architect and interior designer associated with De Stijl movement.
• Gustav Mayerhof (1912-1992): Jewish-born German philosopher who is best known for his work in contrastive philosophy.
• Meyer Mayerhoff (1922-1998): Jewish-born painter associated with Abstract Expressionism.
• Michael Mayerhof (1925–2012): American engineer and mathematician most recognized for his research and development of the Maglev technology.
• Eliyahu Mayerhoff (born 1932): Israeli-born professor and scholar of international law and the author of many books on the subject.
• David Mayerhoff (born 1963): American film producer and director known for his work on films such as What Lies Beneath and Pearl Harbor.

Other surnames

MayerhansMayerhanserMayerhoeferMayerhoefferMayerhoferMayerhöferMayerhoffMayerhofferMayerhöffer