Meyer

Where Meyer comes from

* As a German and Alemannic German surname, from the noun Meier (“leaseholder of a manor”). Compare Maier, Mayer, Meier, Myer. * As a Jewish surname, from Yiddish מאיר (mir). Compare Majer, Major, Mayor, Meir. * As a Dutch/West Flemish surname, variant of Meijer.
— Wiktionary's entry for Meyer
  • Hebrew
  • 2 syllables
Along the way
  1. 1828
    Meyer Guggenheim born
    American businessperson
  2. 1881
    First appearance
    #563 among boys, 10 babies — the first year at least five got the name.
  3. 1902
    Meyer Lansky born
    American gangster
  4. 1912
    Peak, #301
    143 babies named Meyer — more than any year before or since.
  5. 1929
    The fade
    The first year with half the peak's births — down to #878.
In the dictionary
  • A male given name from Hebrew, of Jewish usage, an alternative form of Meir.
Namesakes
  • Meyer Lansky · American gangster, 1902–1983
  • Meyer Guggenheim · American businessperson, 1828–1905
  • Meyer Schapiro · American historian of art, 1904–1996
  • Meyer Kayserling · German rabbi, historian, 1829–1905
  • Meyer Levin · American journalist, 1905–1981

Sources: the origin note and dictionary entry are quoted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); the namesakes come from Wikidata (CC0); the milestones are worked out from the SSA record.