Surname Mennrich - Meaning and Origin
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Mennrich: What does the surname Mennrich mean?
The surname Mennrich is of German origin and derives from the Middle High German word, Mennreich, which translates to “a land or realm ruled by men”. The name would then have attributed to an area that was ruled by a certain group of men or a particularly powerful or prestigious man.
The surname is most common in Germany and is highly specific to that region. It is thought to have originated in Bavaria during the Middle Ages, when much of the land was divided up between powerful families. In some cases, the surnames became hereditary and the Mennrichs were one such family.
Most individuals with the surname Mennrich will share common origins. The name itself may have been a sign of their ancestor’s power and stature in the region where the family lived: an area once ruled by men. The name could also be a signifier that the family was well-respected and influential, due to the high authority that comes with a hereditary surname.
The surname Mennrich is nowadays more commonly associated with Germany, although it can be found all over the world. Those with the last name should be proud of their heritage and the mark that their ancestors left on the region.
Order DNA origin analysisMennrich: Where does the name Mennrich come from?
The last name Mennrich is most commonly found in German speaking countries, particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is derived from the German word “mennig,” which is associated with iron ore, and suggests that the name holder was once involved in the iron ore industry.
In Germany, the last name Mennrich is especially common in the state of Saxony, where it is ranked 336 out of 887 common surnames. In Austria, Mennrich ranks 96 out of 477 common surnames, and is found most often in the state of Styria. The last name Mennrich is also present in Switzerland, where it ranks 8521 out of 50,042; though the name is less common here than in Germany and Austria.
The last name is also present in other European countries, including Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Further, immigration records in the United States indicate that many people with the last name Mennrich came to the US from the German speaking countries (especially Germany) and have since settled along the east coast.
Overall, while the last name Mennrich is still used in some parts of Europe, its distribution often follows the path of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its presence in the United States suggests that many with the last name Mennrich likely immigrated from Germany at some point in the past.
Variations of the surname Mennrich
The surname Mennrich has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin including Menrich, Mennrick, Mennick, Menrick, Menricker, Menirich, Menriche and Mennricker. This surname may be of German origin and likely stems from the Middle High German words "minne" and " rihhi" which mean ‘beloved ruler’ or ‘power of love’ respectively. It is possible that the original bearer of this name was a ruler who was liked or beloved in their area.
The surname could also have stemmed from "mein riche" which translates to ‘my ruler’ or ‘my strong’ derived from the Compass Rose Collection, a database of European surnames. In England , the name is captioned as an English version of the German name.
It is also possible that the surname actually derived from the Old Germanic word "Munrik" which translates to ‘power of the protector’. This more likely derived from the Teutonic tribes before the later influx of Germanic settlers.
The surname has spread to many parts of Europe over the past few centuries, including the United States, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. In the United States, the Mennrich as well as its variants is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Famous people with the name Mennrich
- Karl Mennrich (1899: 1944); a SS major during World War II who served as a German concentration camp commandant.
- Carl Mennrich (1940: 2020); an American singer, songwriter, and music producer.
- William C. Mennrich (1934: 2011); an American politician and bank executive.
- Hans-Peter Mennrich (born 1945); a German political scientist and philosopher.
- Harry Mennrich (1897: 1973); an American baseball player.
- Pauline Mennrich (1858: 1934); a German operatic mezzo-soprano and voice teacher.
- Bruno Mennrich (1886: 1962); an Austrian Nazi politician.
- Karl G. Mennrich (born 1951); a German biologist and entomologist.
- Alfred Mennrich (1906: 1983); a German neo-impressionist artist.
- August Mennrich (1906: 1996); a German writer and poet.