Meer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England

Early Origins of the Meer family

The surname Meer 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 Meer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meer 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 Meer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meer 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 Meer 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 Dutch Golden Age landscape painter

Meer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Meer, who was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1798

Meer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Meer, who was naturalized in Pennsylvania in 1802
Isaac Van Der Meer and his family, who settled in Iowa in 1849
Ant je VanDer Meer, who landed in Iowa in 1849 1
Dirk VanDer Meer, who arrived in Iowa in 1849 1
Frans VanDer Meer, who landed in Iowa in 1849 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meer migration to Australia +

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

Meer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Meer, (b. 1800), aged 41, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
Mr. John Meer, (b. 1823), aged 20, English convict who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 10 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
Mr. Robert Meer, (b. 1821), aged 22, English convict who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 10 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
Mary Meer, aged 20, a housemaid, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emerald Isle" 4
Thomas Meer, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Navarino" 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Meer (post 1700) +

Russell Harlan Meer (1918-1994), American Major League Baseball pitcher
John Samuel Vander Meer (1914-1997), American baseball player, who was the only player to pitch no-hitters in two consecutive games
Melvyn L Meer, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Maryland 5th District, 1968 6
Johan van der Meer (1656-1705), Dutch painter
Barend van der Meer (1659-1700), Dutch Golden Age still life painter
Vonne van der Meer (b. 1952), Dutch prose writer and playwright
Johan van der Meer (1913-2011), Dutch choral conductor
Robine Tanya van der Meer (b. 1971), Dutch actress and model
Lammert Bouke van der Meer (b. 1945), Dutch classicist and classical archaeologist
Tycho van Meer (b. 1974), former field hockey striker from The Netherlands
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
South Australian Register Tuesday 17th January 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emerald Isle 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/emeraldisle1854.shtml
South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1857.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html