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Meyer Family History

Meyer Name Meaning

German and Swiss German: from Middle High German meier a status name for a steward bailiff or overseer which later came to be used also to denote a tenant farmer which is normally the sense in the many compound surnames formed with this term as a second element. Originally it denoted a village headman (ultimately from Latin maior ‘greater superior’). This form of the surname is also established in France (mainly Alsace and Lorraine); see also 3 below. Compare Maier Mayer Meier and Myer . Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish personal name Meyer from Hebrew Meir ‘enlightener’ a derivative of or ‘light’ with the prefix m-. Compare Maier Majer Major Mayer Mayor Meier and Meir . Dutch: variant also Flemish and Americanized of Meijer a cognate of 1 above. This surname is also established in South Africa where it was also brought from France (see 1 above). English: variant of Mayer . Danish: variant of Meier

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Meier, Mayer, Heyer, Moyer, Neyer, Meyers, Meer, Seyer, Geyer, Beyer

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Where is the Meyer family from?

You can see how Meyer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Meyer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Meyer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 83 Meyer families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 43% of all the recorded Meyer's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Meyer families in 1840.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Meyer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Meyer

What did your Meyer ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Meyer | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1940

Farmer
16%
Laborer
9%
Salesman
6%
Clerk
3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Stenographer
8%
Housewife
8%
Teacher
6%
Clerk
5%

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What Meyer family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 741,000 census records available for the last name Meyer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Meyer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search US census records for Meyer
Passenger Lists
There are 307,000 immigration records available for the last name Meyer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Meyer immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 220,000 military records available for the last name Meyer. For the veterans among your Meyer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Meyer military records

Census Records

There are 741,000 census records available for the last name Meyer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Meyer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Meyer

Passenger Lists

There are 307,000 immigration records available for the last name Meyer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Meyer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 220,000 military records available for the last name Meyer. For the veterans among your Meyer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Meyer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Meyer family history

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What is the average Meyer lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Meyer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Meyer in 1941 was 33, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Meyer

Browse profiles of historical people with the Meyer last name