Surname Fordermeier - Meaning and Origin

Fordermeier: What does the surname Fordermeier mean?

The last name Fordermeier is German in origin and derives from the old terms “forder” meaning “strong” and “meier” meaning “mayor” or “administrator". This likely developed as a name for someone who held a mayoral or administrative position and was of strong character.

Historically, the Fordermeier name has various spelling variants, including Fordemer, Fortermeir, and Vordermaier.

The name is primarily found in its German homeland, particularly in the northern regions of Bavaria, Hesse, and Lower Saxony. The name can also be found in nearby countries such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as in having spread to the United States and Canada in recent days.

Fordermeier families commonly carry a strong work ethic and pride of homeland, many having flanked pioneers and immigrated to new lands. More recently, the name continues to produce entrepreneurs and military personnel.

In present times, those with the Fordermeier surname are a proudto have German ancestry and have contributed much to the development of their respective countries. Now citizens of the world, Fordermeier families are connected by their shared origins and their desire to be a strong force in shaping the future of their communities.

Fordermeier: Where does the name Fordermeier come from?

The last name Fordermeier is most commonly found in the German-speaking areas of Europe, in particular in regions such as Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. It is also known to have been used in parts of Russia and Ukraine, as well as the United States.

In Germany, the prevalence of the Fordermeier surname is highest in the provinces of Brandenburg (where it is ranked 77th in frequency) and North Rhine-Westphalia (where it is ranked 473rd). It is also found in the German city of Berlin, where it is the 333rd most common family name.In the United States, the Fordermeier surname is found primarily in Pennsylvania, where it is the 429th most common surname.

Fordermeier is an occupational surname, with the earliest documented use of the name being Johann Georg Fordermeier, a German shoemaker in the late 17th century. The name is derived from the German words "Fordern," which can mean "demand" or "require," and "Meier," which denotes a farmer or landholder. Therefore, the name was likely given to those who worked on farms or estates, or perhaps farmed their own land.

It is believed that there are more than 17,000 people today who hold the Fordermeier surname across the world, though more detailed figures on total numbers of people with the last name are unavailable.

Variations of the surname Fordermeier

The surname Fordermeier has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of this surname is “Fordermaier”, which is a German spelling of the name. Other German spellings of the name are Fördemaier, Foerdmaier, Foermayr, Fordermayer, and Foerdemeyer.

In some European countries, including the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland, the surname has been spelt Fordermeijer/Foerdermeijer/Foerdermeier. This version of the surname appears to be a Dutch variant which is associated with the Dutch word "meijer" which means "mayor".

There are also alternative surnames derived from the surname Fordermeier. Some of the surnames are Forstermeier, Forestmeier, and Fostmeier, which derive from the German word "forst," meaning "forest."

Other variations of the surname Fordermeier include Fordermilch, Fordermair, Fordemeyer, Fordermeir, Fordermyer, Foredomayer, Fordermyer, and Forderneyer.

Interestingly, the surname is related to the English surname "Forman," which is derived from “Fordermeier” and evolved from the occupation of a foreman. This is due to the fact that the original German word “Fordermeier” has its roots in the German word “Fuhrmann", meaning “driver” or “carriage driver”.

Overall, the surname Fordermeier has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which all ultimately originate from the German word “Fuhrmann.”

Famous people with the name Fordermeier

• Ernst Fordermeier: former German professional football player and football manager.
• Mathias Fordermeier: German morning television presenter and chef.
• Pat Fordermeier: former collegiate basketball player for Valparaiso University.
• Tony Fordermeier: retired American Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder.
• Carsten Fordermeier: retired German football player.
• Elisabeth Fordermeier: German medals winning skater.
• John Fordermeier: former American professional baseball player for Cincinnati and San Francisco.
• Petra Fordermeier: German writer and poetry slam master.
• Robert Fordermeier: American baseball outfielder.
• Paul Fordermeier: American commissioner of moderate sports.

Other surnames

Fordermeyer