Meir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The name Meir is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a mayor, or elected head of the community. The name stems from the German word "meier," meaning mayor.

Early Origins of the Meir family

The surname Meir was first found in Prussia, where the name emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Meir family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meir research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1743 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Meir History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meir Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Meier, Meierr, Meieres, Meiers, Meierr, Meierrs, Meierres, Meeier, Mire, Mier, Miere and many more.

Early Notables of the Meir family

More information is included under the topic Early Meir Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meir migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meir Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Bastian Meir, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
Christoph Meir, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
Conrad Meir, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
Hans Jacob Meir, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
Johannes Meir, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 1

Meir Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frederick Meir, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 1
Alexander Meir, who arrived in San Francisco in 1850
Alexander Meir, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 1
Abraham Meir, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1872 1
Abraham Meir, who settled in New York, NY in 1872
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meir 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:

Meir Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. F. Meir, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1851 2
Mrs. Mary Ann Meir, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1851 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Meir (post 1700) +

Theodore Meir Bikel (1924-2015), Austrian-born, American Jewish actor, folk singer, musician, composer, and activist
Sir John Meir Astbury (1860-1939), British judge and politician
Cyril Meir Scott (1879-1970), English composer, writer, and poet

The Meir Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Semper Paratus
Motto Translation: Always prepared.

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html