Meyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Denmark 
  England 
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The ancestral home of the Meyer family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Meyer 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 Meyer family

The surname Meyer was first found in southern Germany, where the family was anciently seated. The name referred at first to the representative of the lord of a manor, and later to the administrator or tenant of a small court.

Early History of the Meyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meyer research. Another 287 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1363, 1400, 1618, 1643, 1646, 1650, 1653, 1689, 1712, 1713, 1725, 1760, 1763, 1786, 1825, 1832, 1845, 1847, 1849, 1857, 1870 and 1898 are included under the topic Early Meyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meyer Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Meyer include Mayer, Maier, Meyer, Meier, Mayr, Meyr, Myer and many more.

Early Notables of the Meyer family

Prominent among members of the name Meyer in this period include

Meyer World Ranking

In the United States, the name Meyer is the 216th most popular surname with an estimated 119,376 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Meyer is ranked the 648th most popular surname with an estimated 7,968 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Meyer is the 65th popular surname with an estimated 36,108 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Meyer as 652nd with 5,989 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Meyer as 459th with 1,505 people. 5 Netherlands ranks Meyer as 271st with 5,259 people. 6 South Africa ranks Meyer as 80th with 60,306 people. 7


Meyer migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Meyer surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Meyer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Meyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Meyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Meyer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Meyer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meyer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Meyer migration to Australia +

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

Meyer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Meyer 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:

Meyer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Meyer (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Meyer +
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