Surname Mäder - Meaning and Origin

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D. Mäder

Mäder: What does the surname Mäder mean?

The last name Mäder is a popular German surname with several variations including Maeder, Maedler, Maedl, and Madler. It is derived from the Middle High German "maden", meaning "to till". The name is thought to have originated in Germany, where the Mäder family can be traced back to the 16th century.

Originally, many Mäder family members were involved in farming or agriculture. As a result, they were known for their hardworking and industrious nature. It was not uncommon for Mäders to be farmers, millers, or even prominent businessmen. At the same time, Mäders were also known for their craftsmanship and skill in working with metal, wood, and other materials.

In modern times, the Mäder surname is still very common and Mäders can be found all around the world. Mäders are still known for their practicality, reliability, and love of hard work and industriousness, values which have been passed down through generations. They are artisans and craftsmen and still highly-valued and respected in the marketplace.

The Mäder name has also been linked to science and engineering, with noted family members including influential aerospace engineer Dieter Mäder. This is a testament to the versatility and adaptability of the Mäder family over the centuries. At its core, the Mäder name represents a desire to make the world a better place through hard work and dedication.

Mäder: Where does the name Mäder come from?

The last name Mäder is quite common today, primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The German language Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Familienforschungen (BAF) lists Mäder as the 4,306th most common surname in Germany, with a total of 1,417 listings of the surname. The Austrian statistical authority Östatistik also lists Mäder as the 4,211th most common surname in Austria, with 560 recorded listings. Similarly, the Swiss Federal Department of Statistics lists Mäder as the 5,133rd most prevalent surname in Switzerland, with 115 recorded listings.

Mäder is also a fairly common last name throughout the rest of Europe, particularly the German-speaking countries. It is also recorded as a common surname in Latvia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, and Russia. In the United States, Mäder is a much less common name, though it can still be found in some areas. The 2020 Census recorded a total of 280 individuals with this surname, primarily in Pennsylvania, California, and New York.

Regardless of where it is found, the name Mäder is usually thought to be derived from the Middle High German word 'mäde', which was used to describe a young woman. Over time, this word has evolved and adopted different meanings, though its original connotation has remained throughout.

Variations of the surname Mäder

The Mäder surname is an interesting one because of its many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these spellings and surnames include the following:

Mader

Mater

Maeder

Meyer

Meyers

Mertz

Meyers

Mühle

Müller

Meyerhoff

Meyerhof

Mühlberger

Müllerhoff

Meister

Mayer

Mayerhofer

Madera

Madeira

Metzger

Metzinger

It is thought that most of the people with the Mäder surname or a variation thereof hail from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. This is primarily based on the fact that the name is of Germanic origin. The name is thought to come from the pre-Christian Germanic personal name 'Magoz'. This was a short form of the German name Meginhard meaning ‘strong and brave’. The suffix 'er' was used to indicate descent from such a person.

These variations of the name have spread around the world, mostly due to the various waves of German emigration across the centuries, often with the name changing slightly as it travelled. For example, Mader was a common variation of the name in Switzerland, where the surname was also often spelt Mater or Mertz. Furthermore, in Austria and Hungary, the surname changed to Meister or Mayer, while in France and other parts of Europe, the surname was written as Meier or Meyer.

All of these variants of the Mäder surname are related and are derived from the same root name, making it easy to recognise your family's genealogy. Regardless of the spelling, the Mäder name has a proud heritage and is considered one of the oldest surnames in the world.

Famous people with the name Mäder

• Roman Mäder: Swiss CEO and investor, founder of Angus Venture AG
• Georg Mäder: Swiss contemporary artist and sculptor
• Irene Mäder: Swiss professor in the field of political science
• Andrea Mäder: Swiss athlete, winner of two bronze medals at the 1992 Olympic Games
• Thomas Mäder: Swiss professional photographer and artist
• Kurt Mäder: German footballer, nicknamed "Der König von Bingen" (The King of Bingen)
• Urs Mäder: Swiss astrophysicist, creator of the Rain Rain Experiment
• Bill Mäder: American guitarist, composer, and producer
• Robert Mäder: German politician and statesman
• Frederic Mäder: Swiss concert pianist and composer

Other surnames

MadererMäderer