Meers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England

Early Origins of the Meers family

The surname Meers was first found in Holland, where the name 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. The name was first recorded in North Holland, a province of the Netherlands. The principal cities are Amsterdam, Haarlem and Hilversum. It was the seat of the old Counts of Holland. Seat of one of the oldest families is Brederode Castle near Haarlem. There are many old and quaint towns in the province. including Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Edam, and Monnikendam. In their later history the surname 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 Meers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meers research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1628, 1632, 1656, 1659, 1675, 1691, 1700, 1705 and 1842 are included under the topic Early Meers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meers Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Meer, Meere, Mer, Mere, Meeres, Meers, Meres, Mers, Meerr, Merr, Merrs and many more.

Early Notables of the Meers family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included Jan Vermeer (1632-1675), also called Jan van der Meer van Delft, a renowned Dutch painter; Jan Vermeer van Haarlem the Elder (1628-1691), a...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Meers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meers migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hannah Meers, who arrived in Maryland in 1658 1
Henry Meers, who landed in Virginia in 1664 1
Ann Meers, who landed in Maryland in 1677 1
John Meers, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 1

Meers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joseph Meers, who landed in New York in 1794 1

Meers migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Meers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Meers, (Mears), (b. 1753), aged 68, English milliner who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1833 2
James Meers, aged 33, a shepherd, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Constance" 3

Meers migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Meers Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Catherine Meers, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1861
Julia E. Meers, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1861

Contemporary Notables of the name Meers (post 1700) +

Gilbert F. Meers, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Buchanan County 3rd District, 1940 4
Arthur J. Meers, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of St. Joseph, Missouri, 1961-66 4
William Meers (1844-1902), English cricketer who played for Kent in 1866
Nick Meers (b. 1955), British landscape photographer
Nelson John Meers AO (b. 1938), Australian lawyer, 77th Lord Mayor of Sydney (1978-1980)
Ernest George Meers (1848-1928), English tennis player who was ranked No. 5 in 1888; he won Wimbledon in 1885 and the US Open in 1889

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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Constance.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html