Surname Maierhofer - Meaning and Origin

Discovering Maierhofer: A Personal Odyssey into My Surname's Cultural and Historical Saga through iGENEA DNA Test

Embarking on a journey through time with the iGENEA DNA test results, I reveal the fascinating historical narrative and cultural texture embodied in my surname, Maierhofer. Originated from the agricultural ethos of Central Europe, the name renders a story of socio-political intricacies, geographical migrations and close-knit ties to the land - shaping the person I am today.

G. Maierhofer

Maierhofer: What does the surname Maierhofer mean?

Maierhofer is a German name derived from the word "Meier," meaning "farmer," and "höf," meaning "farmstead" or "courtyard." The suffix "-fer" indicates descent, so the surname Maierhofer literally means "descendant of the court or farmstead keeper."

Maierhofer is a fairly common name in Germany and Austria, where it is believed to have originated. The earliest known record of the name comes from 1713 in Styria, in central Austria. Many of the Maierhofer family members originated from a small region in the Alps called the Oberinntal, located between present-day Tirol and South Tyrol.

Throughout the 20th century, Maierhofer families have been scattered all across Austria, Germany, and Central Europe. Maierhofer's living in the United States tend to have more recent ancestry from Germany, as the name has only begun to appear in the American records in the past few generations.

Maierhofer is often considered an occupational name as it originally described someone who worked on a large farmstead, such as a court or farmstead keeper. The traditional occupation of court keeper has now developed into a more general meaning, that of a loyal and hardworking individual. Today, the Maierhofer name is often associated with honesty, reliability, and dependability.

Maierhofer: Where does the name Maierhofer come from?

The last name Maierhofer is most common in Germany and Austria today. According to the website Forebears, the last name Maierhofer is the 4,875th most common surname in Germany, with approximately 6,600 people bearing the surname in that country. Furthermore, Maierhofer is the 1,361st most common surname in Austria, with about 840 people bearing the name according to the same website.

The origin of the name Maierhofer traces back to the German word "meier", which was used to describe the head of a rural community or landowner, such as a village mayor or squire. The addition of the suffix hofer indicates that the people with this name were descendants of such an official. It is most likely that the people with the last name Maierhofer originated from the lower Bavarian region.

The last name Maierhofer is unique in that it is found exclusively in the German language. Although there are many other variations of the name in other languages, such as Mairhofen in the Austrian-Swiss dialect, Maierhofer is the original German version.

With its historical roots in Germany and Austria, the last name Maierhofer remains most common in that region today. As it is still found in both countries, it is presumed that it is still carried by the Maierhofer families who first adopted the name centuries ago.

Variations of the surname Maierhofer

The geographical origin of the surname Maierhofer, or any of its variants, is uncertain, but records indicate that it has been in use since at least the 11th century. Maierhofer is usually derived from the German word maier, meaning "a farmer or a craftsman".

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include: Mayerhofer, Meirhofer, Maierhofinger, Maierhöfer, Meirhofinger, Mayerhofinger, Meyhofer and Mayhofer. These variants are all derived from the German word maier.

Meyhofer is a variant that is derived from the old German word meier, meaning “lord of the manor or a tenant farmer”. This is where the prefix mey- is often seen in German surname, indicating a manorial tenant.

Mayhofer is another variant of Maierhofer, derived from the German word mahler, meaning "painter". The use of this suffix implies that the original bearer of the name was an artist.

The variants Maierhofinger and Mayerhofinger are derived from the German word höfer, meaning “owner of a homestead”. This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have been a yeoman, an independent farmer.

Mayerhofer is a variant of Maierhofer, taken from the German word meier, meaning “lord of the manor or a tenant farmer”. This implies that the original bearer of the name was a tenant farmer or a manorial lord.

Overall, Maierhofer is a surname of German origin derived from the word maier, meaning "a farmer or a craftsman". It also has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Mayerhofer, Meirhofer, Maierhofinger, Meirhofinger, Mayerhofinger, Meyhofer and Mayhofer, all of which are derived from other German words also referring to farmers and craftsmen.

Famous people with the name Maierhofer

• Philipp Maierhofer: Philipp Maierhofer is an Austrian football player currently playing for LASK in the Austrian Bundesliga. He has also represented Austria at the U-17 and U-21 level.
• Paul Maierhofer: Paul Maierhofer is a German footballer who currently plays for Würzburger Kickers in the German Bundesliga. He has previously represented Germany at the U-21 level.
• Patrick Maierhofer: Patrick Maierhofer is a Swiss football player who currently plays for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League. He has also represented Switzerland at the U-17 level.
• Jürgen Maierhofer: Jürgen Maierhofer is a German former football player and manager. He has managed several clubs including Karlsruher SC and Eintracht Frankfurt.
• Manfred Maierhofer: Manfred Maierhofer is an Austrian former ski jumper. He competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, and is the first Austrian to have won the combined event at the Four Hills Tournament.
• Tobias Maierhofer: Tobias Maierhofer is a German professional volleyball player who currently plays for VC Dresden in the German Volleyball League. He has represented Germany at the U-19 level in the 2017 European Championships.
• Katharina Maierhofer: Katharina Maierhofer is an Austrian former Alpine skier. She competed and won multiple medals at the Alpine Skiing World Cup and also competed in the 2003 Alpine Skiing World Championships.
• Max Maierhofer: Max Maierhofer is an Austrian footballer currently playing for SV Horn in the Austrian Bundesliga.
• Christian Maierhofer: Christian Maierhofer is a Austrian former ski jumper. He competed in the 2004 and 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Lorenz Maierhofer: Lorenz Maierhofer is an Austrian former ski jumper. He competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics and is a bronze medalist at the Four Hills Tournament.

Other surnames

Maierhof