Meier Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Meier mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
Origin of the Meier name
Meier is a German status name for a steward or bailiff who managed a lord's estate, from Middle High German meier, from Latin maior, "greater". Later it came to mean a tenant farmer. The spelling Meier is especially common in northern Germany and Switzerland.
The steward of the manor
A medieval Meier (Latin maior, "greater") was the steward who ran a lord's or a monastery's farm, collected dues and later often held the land himself. The office existed all over German-speaking Europe, which is why the surname appears as Meier, Meyer, Maier and Mayer.
The spelling Meier is especially Swiss: Forebears estimates about 52,000 bearers in Switzerland, ranking it 2nd, among the most common names there, and about 148,000 in Germany. In the United States the 2010 Census counted 25,486 Meiers (ranked 1,391st), alongside many more Meyers.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Meier name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Meier name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Switzerland, the United States and Austria; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Meier family history
Order the full Meier history to read the records behind the name, with a Meier coat of arms painted for your family.
Meier name FAQ
What does the Meier name mean?
Steward, estate manager. Common variants include Meyer, Mayer, Maier.
Where does the Meier surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in Switzerland, the United States and Austria.
Is there a Meier coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Meier crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Meier coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Are Meier and Meyer the same name?
Yes. Both come from the steward's title; the spelling varies by region.
Is Meier a Swiss surname?
It is one of the most frequent surnames in Switzerland, and it is common in Germany too.
Meier family history and famous bearers
Who else has carried the name? See famous people named Meier. For research tips, read Meier family history and genealogy.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford). Facts and figures: Forebears surname distribution (estimates); US Census Bureau, 2010 surname file; Wikipedia, "Meier (surname)". Forebears figures are modelled estimates, rounded.