Surname Meinard - Meaning and Origin
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Meinard: What does the surname Meinard mean?
The origin of the last name Meinard is thought to have originated from the Old Germanic masculine personal name Meginhard, meaning "strong one". This name later evolved into Mainhardt and Meinhard. Later variations of the last name have been recorded as Meinert, Meinhard, Meinhardt, and Meinard.
The surname is likely to have been adopted by families who were in some way related to the original bearers of the personal name, in some cases as a patronymic surname, and in others as a sign of respect to a revered ancestor. During the Middle Ages, many families gained prestige through military service, and this was often reflected in the adoption of a similar personal name.
Meinard is a noble surname with strong roots in Europe. Records of the name have been found to date back to the 12th century; Germany was particularly well-known for its variety of Meinard family names. With so much value placed on personal legacy, names were carefully chosen to coincide with the standard of living and order of nobility within the family.
Today, the last name Meinard may be found across Europe, the United States, and parts of Canada and Latin America. Many famous people share the Meinard last name, including German economist Peter Meinard; American musician Bill Meinard; and Canadian businessman Jean-Louis Meinard.
Order DNA origin analysisMeinard: Where does the name Meinard come from?
The last name Meinard is most commonly found in and around northern Central Europe today. Countries where the name Meinard is found the most include Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, it is particularly popular along the Upper Rhine region in the states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Baden-Württemberg. It is also quite common in Austria, especially in the northeast and southwest regions of the country. The name can be found sparsely in other states like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Latvia.
When referring to any given location, the name is known to be spelled differently. For instance, in Germany, it is written as 'Meinhardt', 'Meinert', 'Meindl' in Austria, and 'Meinardt' in France.
The name is thought to have originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived a specific person's first name. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly given as a last name to those who had a religious dowry or endowment.
Meinardus was also a priest in the ninth century from the Rhineland area who was said to have borne the Meinard surname. Most likely, this name origin story was key in cementing them surname's popularity in the aforementioned countries.
The distribution of the last name Meinard is best explained by the often turbulent history of the lands where it is found. Forced migration through war, plague, or famine could have caused it to be more dispersed than in some other regions.
Variations of the surname Meinard
Meinard is an old Germanic surname of ancient origin, first found in parts of present-day France, Germany, and Luxembourg. Its variants and spellings include Mainard, Mainhard, Mienard, and Meinhard.
The surname is likely derived from Meinhard, the Germanic personal name composed of the Old High German elements mein, meaning “strong,” and hard, meaning “brave.” Variants of the name include Meinhard, Mainhard, Meinhardt, Menhardt, Meinhold, etc.
In France, the surname Meinard dates back to the 13th-century and may exist in its earliest recorded form as Mainard. Records of this spellings dates back to 14th-century documents in Paris surrounding the family of Michel Meinard. The record in south-western France leads back to Mainard de la Bessarie, of the Chateau of the Comptes d'Eu and the Seigneur de la Bessarie, in the 17th-century.
In the present-day, the surname is found mostly in parts of present-day Germany, Luxembourg, and France, and can sometimes be spelled as Meinhard, or Mienard. According to records, the Meinard spelling is unusual within Germany and likely originates somewhere near the Luxembourg border.
In the United States, the surname can be found as Meinard, Mainard, Mainardt, Mainhardt, Meinhardt and Meinhard. Even though the spelling of Meinard is fairly uncommon, it can be found in various parts of the United States including Pennsylvania, New York, and Georgia.
In general, the surname has been spelt in a variety of ways always indicating its ancient Germanic origin and depending on the country, time period, and language.
Famous people with the name Meinard
- Adrienne Meinard, French sculptor
- Marcel Meinard, French poet
- Émile Meinard, French actor
- Christophe Meinard, French photographer
- Marie-José Meinard, French writer
- François Meinard, French designer
- Gaël Meinard, French singer-songwriter
- Joe Meinard, American model and actor
- Bertil Meinard, Swedish artist
- Julian Meinard, Dutch painter
- Henno Meinard, Dutch artist
- Alexis Meinard, Canadian journalist
- Beatrice Meinard, French fencer
- Étienne Meinard, French writer
- Henri Meinard, French architect