Find out how popular the last name Katzenmeier is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Katzenmeier.

Katzenmeier, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Katzenmeier surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Katzenmeier in America

Katzenmeier is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Katzenmeier surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Katzenmeier.

The history of the last name Katzenmeier

The surname Katzenmeier finds its roots in Germany, with its origins tracing back to the medieval period, around the 13th century. The name is primarily associated with regions in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, areas known for their rolling landscapes and quaint villages. The etymology of Katzenmeier is derived from combining the German words "Katze," meaning cat, and "Meier," an old term for a farmer or steward. This indicates that the name might have originally referred to a farmer who kept cats, perhaps for pest control.

Historically, Katzenmeier appears in several late medieval and early modern land records and tax rolls, particularly in the aforementioned regions. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a Bavarian parish register from 1473, where a Jürgen Katzenmeier is mentioned as a land-owning farmer. This early mention suggests that the family was established and likely played a significant role in their local community.

During the 16th century, the Katzenmeier name appears with relative frequency in official documents. For instance, a Hans Katzenmeier, born 1542 and died 1603, is recorded in the tax archives of Ulm as a prominent landholder. Another notable Katzenmeier is Maria Katzenmeier, who married into the aristocratic family of von Hohenfels in 1621, indicating a social rise of the family at that time.

The similarity in spelling across various records, such as Katzenmayer and Katzenmayr, suggests that the name was relatively stable in its orthographic form but subjected to regional dialectical variations. By the 18th century, the family name appears in more widespread records due to the increase in population and improved record-keeping. An example includes Johann Peter Katzenmeier (1675–1734), a noted blacksmith in the town of Augsburg.

In the 19th century, with the advent of better bureaucratic processes, the Katzenmeier surname became further documented. Wilhelm Katzenmeier (1802–1867), born in Stuttgart, was a well-known shoemaker whose craftsmanship earned accolades, further solidifying the family name in skilled trade circles. Another figure from the same century, Friedrich Katzenmeier (1850–1923), was a publisher and contributed significantly to local literature in Baden-Baden.

The Katzenmeier surname thus encapsulates a rich history that spans several centuries and encompasses a variety of social roles in German society. From farmers and blacksmiths to publishers and landowners, the Katzenmeiers have maintained a presence throughout regional history, demonstrating their enduring influence and adaptability.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Katzenmeier

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Katzenmeier.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Katzenmeier was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Katzenmeier was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Katzenmeier, please contact us.

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