Surname Meinertshagen - Meaning and Origin
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Meinertshagen: What does the surname Meinertshagen mean?
The last name Meinertshagen (also spelled Meinertshagen) is of German origin. It is a habitational name from a place in Lower Saxony, situated near the town of Damme. The original phrase was "myn ertshaegen", which means "farm house on the heath".
The Meinertshagen family has been documented for centuries in Hamburg and the former Prussian provinces of Schleswig-Holstein and Westphalia. Early records show that the Meinertshagen surname appeared as early as the 16th century, when Gerincke de Myn ertshaegen (Gerincke from the farm House on the Heath) settled in Nicomeden (now a part of the city of Hamburg).
Throughout German history, the Meinertshagen family has been linked with various trades and professions. Members of the family have been found to have worked as farmers, bakers, carpenters, fishermen, merchants, millers, tailors, and weavers.
In America, the Meinertshagen family has settled in Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, and Oregon. Many have taken up occupations in the medical field, including doctors, nurses, and dentists.
In summary, the surname Meinertshagen has a long and detailed history in Germany and the United States, linking the family to various trades and professions throughout the years. It is believed to derive from a place in Lower Saxony, with the phrase “myn ertshaegen” meaning “farm house on the heath.”
Order DNA origin analysisMeinertshagen: Where does the name Meinertshagen come from?
The last name Meinertshagen is primarily concentrated in Germany, particularly in the northern and western states. According to maps compiled by surname-mapping companies, surname bearers appear to be most heavily concentrated in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, and Hamburg, all located on the country's western side.
It is also seen elsewhere in Europe, including in Austria, Belgium, and France, but prevalence is much more difficult to determine. Records suggest that the name can be traced back to at least the 16th century, in the area of Holstein in what is now Germany. The earliest recorded bearer was one Claus Meinertshagen, born in 1591.
In the United States, there are more than 200 people with the Meinertshagen surnames in the census records, but they are mainly concentrated in Wisconsin. The earliest recorded Meinertshagen immigrant was one Heinrich Meinertshagen, who arrived in the US in 1868. He settled in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Elsewhere in the world, the name is uncommon, though there are some bearing it in countries such as Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and Australia. A large number of the people with this surname outside Europe are of German descent.
Given its quite limited geographical distribution, it’s safe to say the last name Meinertshagen is not a particularly common one. However, its prevalence in Germany indicates its historical importance to the region and its people.
Variations of the surname Meinertshagen
Meinertshagen is a German surname, derived from the place name Meinhard, which is a masculine Germanic personal name. It is first recorded in Germany in the 1500s and over time, the surnames and its variants have been used in multiple spellings. Some of the most common variants and spellings for this surname include Meinertshagen, Meinershagen, Meierhagen, Mayershagen, Menterhagen, and Mennerhagen.
Most surnames derived from place-names, as is the case with Meinertshagen, are had commonly had multiple spellings, usually due to discrepancies in the spelling, pronunciation and spelling that was used in the original records.
The different spellings of Meinertshagen are also closely related to some of the other of names that were derived from Meinhard, such as Meinhardt, Meinharde, Meinhohn, Meinhut, Meinthall, Meinwieser, Meinwinkel, Meinen, Meinerding, Meinharder, Meins, Meinzinger, Menter, MeHnert, Mengert, Minger, Menghard, and Mungert.
In most cases, the use of surnames such as Meinertshagen have arisen because of the likelyhood of a name holder being related to someone who held a similar form of the name, most likely in the same geographic location. A well-known example is that of the Meinhard rulers in Lotharingia, a state across what is now Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. As such, people living in these areas could have used or adopted the same name, giving rise, in some cases, to its multiple spellings and variations.
Famous people with the name Meinertshagen
- Ulrich von Meinertshagen (1875-1956): German art historian, renowned for his work in the classical period.
- Richard Meinertshagen (1892-1944): German soldier who fought in World War I and World War II.
- Ingrid von Meinertshagen (1899-1963): German writer, poet and artist who wrote on a variety of topics.
- Hans von Meinertshagen (1899-1969): German field marshal during World War II.
- Hanna Schygulla von Meinertshagen (1943-): German actress and singer who appeared in many films since the 1960s.
- Peter von Meinertshagen (1948-): German classical musician, composer and conductor.
- Jan von Meinertshagen (1951-): German painter and sculptor, based in Dusseldorf.
- Arianne von Meinertshagen (1968-): German pianist and composer, best known for her work in contemporary music.
- Philipp von Meinertshagen (1971-): German biochemist and molecular biologist, who has done research in the fields of genetics and molecular biology.
- Felix von Meinertshagen (1991-): German writer, journalist and entrepreneur, passionate about technology and sports.