Surname Dorfmeier - Meaning and Origin

Dorfmeier: What does the surname Dorfmeier mean?

The surname Dorfmeier is of German origin and is originally a topographical name referring to someone who lived within a village, or "dorf." In fact, "dorf" is an old German word meaning "village" or "hamlet," while "meier" is a shortened version of the Olde High German term "meininger," which refers to an individual who held paramount authority in a certain area. Thus, the combination of these two words together results in a name meaning "chieftain of the village."

The Dorfmeier surname is first recorded in the late 18th century among Bavarian-based nobility and many people bearing this surname are likely to be descendants of their line. Records of the name being used can also be found in the areas of Brandenburg and Prussia, where the name was highly regarded.

Generally, people with the Dorfmeier surname were typically farmers or landowners, befitting its basic translation as a "village chief." In this context, the term could also refer to someone who was recognized as a mayor or was seen as a leader of the village. Many of them were likely in positions of power and prestige.

The Dorfmeier surname is still found in Germany today, especially in the region of Bavaria. It has also spread throughout Europe and the United States, with immigrant descendants of the Dorfmeier line settling in various locations.

Dorfmeier: Where does the name Dorfmeier come from?

The last name Dorfmeier is quite common in Germany today, primarily in the region of Westphalia where it originates. Around the world, however, it may be more difficult to identify the presence of Dorfmeier as a surname.

In the United States, for example, it is relatively rare. The 2000 US census found fewer than 400 occurrences of the name, primarily concentrated in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Many of these individuals may be of German ancestry, having taken up residence in the United States after leaving Europe.

Given this difficulty in identifying Dorfmeier in the United States, one may turn to records of emigrant passengers in order to understand better the global historical presence of the name. Some records of emigrants led by this name have been found in the Ancestry and FamilySearch databases. The data indicates that individuals from Germany bearing the last name Dorfmeier began to emigrate from Germany to the United States between 1840 and 1920, with the majority arriving in the year 1882 from Westphalia.

Although rare in other countries, especially those outside of German speaking regions, the surname Dorfmeier continues to retain a presence in Germany today, particularly in Westphalia. Emigrant records from the past two centuries give us further insight into the presence of (and movement of) the Dorfmeier surname more broadly across the world.

Variations of the surname Dorfmeier

The surname Dorfmeier is an old German patronymic name derived from the word “Dorf” meaning “village” and “Meier” meaning “Mayor.” One variant of this name is the spelling Dorffmeier. Other alternate spellings of the name include Dorfmeijer, Dorffmeijer, Dorfmajer, Dorfmeyar, Dorfmaier, Dorffmayer, and Dorffmeyer. This surname may also be found with a double f such as Dorfffmeier or Dorffffmeier.

Many of the variant spellings of Dorfmeier are primarily found in the Netherlands and the Flanders region of Germany, where the surname is also quite common. In other parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the surname is often spelled Dorfmeier.

The name Dorfmeier is also found in the form of other surnames such as Dorfather, Dormeyer, Dorvister, Dorvisher, DorScore, Dorschner, Dorschert, Drescher, Dürmark, and Dellwig.

Another variant of this surname is Dormer, found in Britain and the United States, which is believed to be a variant of Dorfmeier. However, this variant can be traced back to a number of different origins including, German, Dutch, Polish, and Jewish.

The surname Dorfmeyer is also found in the United States. This is likely an Americanized version of Dorfmeier, whereby the "me" was replaced with "meyer" to more easily fit into the American naming conventions.

In conclusion, the surname Dorfmeier has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants and spellings can be traced back centuries and can be found all over the world.

Famous people with the name Dorfmeier

• Cara Dorfmeijer: Dutch former racing cyclist
• Carl Dorfmeijer: Dutch field hockey player
• Jules Dorfmeijer: Dutch sprinter
• Timo Dorfmeijer: Dutch cartoonist known for his magazine work
• Jon Dorfmeier: American professional wrestler
• Chris Dorfmeier: American former professional boxer
• Michael F. Dorfmeijer: Dutch entrepreneur and former chairman of Field Hockey Club Oranje Zwart
• Jeff Dorfmeijer: American collegiate athlete
• Mark Dorfmeijer: Dutch former footballer
• Helen Dorfmeijer: Dutch actress and singer

Other surnames

Dorfmeister