Maur History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Germany
Italy

The Maur surname comes from the German word "mauer," meaning "wall;" as such, the name is thought to have originally been occupational, for a builder of stone walls.

Early Origins of the Maur family

The surname Maur was first found in Austria, where the name Maur became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Maur family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maur research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1677, 1701, 1777 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Maur History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maur Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Maur include Maurer, Maurere, Maurers, Maureres, Maurerr, Maurrer, Maurerrs, Maurrers, Maurerre, Maurreres, Maureer, Morer, Moorer and many more.

Early Notables of the Maur family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Maur were

the Maurer family of Austria

Maur migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Maur or a variant listed above:

Maur Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Maur, who landed in New York in 1709 1
John Georg Maur, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1764 1

Maur Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Johann Peter Maur, who arrived in Michigan in 1855 1

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)