Surname Maaß - Meaning and Origin

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A. Maaß

Maaß: What does the surname Maaß mean?

The last name Maaß is predominantly found in Germany and is derived from the word Maus meaning “mouse”. It is likely to have originated as a nickname for someone who was thought to possess the characteristics of the animal, including being shy, quick-witted and small. The suffix -aß was added on for the purpose of forming a surname.

As a result, Maaß is classified as a habitation name, a type of surname assigned to someone who lives at, or is from, a particular spot. During the Middle Ages, many individuals living in cities, towns, or villages chose to take the name of their birthplace as their family name. This is likely how the surname Maaß was formed, as it was most likely given to those who lived near a mouse habitat or on a property associated with the rodent.

The earliest known record of Maaß is from 1265, when Claus Mausen appears in the “Scheide Register” of the city of Cologne. The name has also appeared in several other German court records over the centuries.

Today, Maaß is found mostly in Germany, although it can be found in Austria, Switzerland, and some other countries where German immigrants have settled. In Germany, it is the 352nd most popular surname.

Maaß: Where does the name Maaß come from?

The last name Maaß is a fairly common German surname. The origin of the name is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "maas," meaning boundary or boundary marker. Today, the last name Maaß is still found throughout Germany, and is particularly common in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt.

It is estimated that around 25,000 people in Germany currently bear the last name Maaß. Many of these individuals still live in the areas where the name was most popular during the Middle Ages. The many descendants of the Maaß family are believed to have made their home primarily in the territory controlled by the Archbishopric of Mainz - an area often referred to as the "Holy Roman Empire."

Outside of Germany, the last name Maaß can also be found to this day in neighboring Austria as well as in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. In the United States, the Maaß family is believed to have emigrated in the 18th century and can now be found mostly in the states of Wisconsin, Texas, and Michigan.

Overall, the last name Maaß is an established German surname that has seen widespread usage over the centuries. While it is currently most common in Germany, it remains popular throughout much of Europe and even in the United States.

Variations of the surname Maaß

The surname Maaß has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Maas, Maass, Maasz, Mass, Masz, Matz, Masson, Mazon, Matson, Maddon, Mez, Mazin, Meijer, Meijerin, Maziak, Mazanowski, Mayer, Meyer and Möhring.

Maaß is derived from the German word meissen, which means to measure or to assess. It is believed to have first originated as a descriptive nickname for an assessor or one who measured land or goods which were then taxed, and later became a surname.

Maaß is also the German spelling for the surname Maass. This is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, which has Dutch/Flemish roots. It originated as a variant of Maes, which is a nickname for Matthias, the patron saint of the Netherlands. It is also believed to have been a Jewish adaptation of the Polish surname Majszczyk or Majszczak.

Maaß is also the spelling for the surname Maas, which is a Dutch surname. It is believed to be derived from the German word meist, which means mostly or mainly, and was used as a nickname for the eldest son.

The surname Maasz is the German spelling of the Hungarian surname Maasz. It is believed to be derived from the Slavic personal name Maslo, and was mainly found in the region of Transylvania.

The surname Mass is a German topographic surname, which means one who lived on a sandy hill.

Masz is also a German spelling for the surname Mas, which is derived from the Latin word mala, which means bad or inferior. It was used as a nickname for a mean or spiteful person.

The surname Matz is derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means “gift of God”. This surname is also found in many other countries, such as the United States and Germany.

The surnames Mazon, Matson, Maddon, Mez, Mazin and Mayer all share the same German root and are believed to be derived from the Latin word macellum, which is the name for a market.

Meijer, Meijerin and Möhring are all Germanic patronymic surnames, which are derived from the given name Mey, Meijer or Mayer.

Maziak and Mazanowski are Polish surnames derived from the Slavic personal name Maslo, which means honey or bee.

The surname Maaß is believed to have many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants may have arisen from different languages, cultures and countries, but they all share the same roots and meanings.

Famous people with the name Maaß

• Jannik Maaß: the German professional footballer who plays as a defender for VfL Bochum.
• Roswitha Maaß: a German former alpine skier who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics.
• Lars Maaß: a German ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for Löwen Frankfurt of the German Oberliga.
• Maria Maaß: a German operatic contralto who had an active career from 1947 to 1968.
• Wolfgang Maaß: a German former rower who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• Lucia Maaß: an East German sprint canoer who competed in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Daniel Maaß: a German journalist, author and television presenter.
• Peter Maaß: a German author and screenwriter.
• Max Maaß: a German Olympic gold medalist in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
• Christian Maaß: a German sculptor and painter who was active in Mecklenburg in the late 19th century.

Other surnames

MaaßenMaaßmannMaaßmeier