German surname
Steward or tenant farmer
Occupational surname
Meyer (also Meier, Mayer, Maier) is a German status or occupational surname from Middle High German 'meier', meaning a steward, bailiff, or tenant farmer who managed a large farm or estate. The position was important in the feudal and later agrarian economy.
The name is extremely common across German-speaking regions and ranks among the top surnames in Germany. It has spread widely through emigration. Different spellings often reflect regional orthographic traditions rather than distinct origins.
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Steward or tenant farmer. From medieval Latin "maior", originally a farm bailiff or leaseholder of some standing.
Meyer is a German-origin surname. Popularity varies widely by country and region, and the same surname can be common in one place and rare in another.
Yes. Surnames, especially occupational and descriptive ones like this, were often adopted independently by many unrelated families who happened to share a trade, appearance, or location.
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