Origin of the surname Bauer

This interesting and long-established surname is of early medieval German origin, and is either a status name for a small farmer or a nickname meaning "neighbour, fellow citizen". The derivation is from the German "Bauer" (Middle High German, "(ge)bur"), ultimately from the Old High German "giburo". The Middle High German word denoted an occupier of a bur, a small dwelling or cottage; hence, "neighbour, fellow citizen", but this word later fell together with the Middle High German "buwaeere", an agent noun from the Old High German "buan", to cultivate (the land), thereby denoting a peasant farmer, one who depends on either cottage industry or agricultural labour as a means of subsistence.

Recordings of the surname from German Registers include the birth of Andreas, son of Endres Bauer, at Arnsfeld, Chemnitz, Sachsen, in 1520, and the marriage of Andreas Bauer to Ursula Meyher in Neundorf, Chemnitz, Sachsen, on April 4th 1587. A Coat of Arms granted to the Bauer family of Loeben is recorded heraldically in Rietstap's "Armorial General", and reflects the surname's origins, depicting a peasant, clad in black, and holding in each hand a flail, against a gold field; another shows a deer rampant proper on a green terrasse against an azure field. A green trefoil is positioned under the deer, and a gold star appears in the dexter chief. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johanne Bower, of Greifswald, which was dated 1354, in "Die Greifswalder Familiennamen des 13/14 Jahrh", by Dr. H. Nuske, during the reign of Charles 1V of Luxembourg, Holy Roman Emperor, 1347 - 1378. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Bauer. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of bauer leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname bauer is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Bauer around the world

There is a considerable probability that bauer has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where bauer is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname bauer provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Bauer

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named bauer are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname bauer, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of bauer developed.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of bauer could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about bauer and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Bauer

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname bauer, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname bauer were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.

The surname Bauer and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname bauer, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of bauer are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of bauer, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Bauer