This most interesting and unusual surname is of early medieval English origin, and is a topographical name for a "dweller by the long stone or menhir". The derivation of the name is from the Breton "men", stone, and "hir", long. A menhir is a single standing stone, often carved, dating from the middle Bronze Ages in the British Isles and from the late Neolithic Age in Western Europe. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages.
The surname was reintroduced into England by the French Huguenots. During the mid to late 17th Century thousands of French Huguenots fled to England and other countries, to escape religious persecution on the Continent, especially after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis X1V in 1685. In the modern idiom the surname has many variant spellings ranging from Mennear, Menier, Menure and Menere, to Meneyer, Meneer, Manhare and Menear. Recordings of the surname from London Church Registers include: the christening of Arnold, son of John Mener, on October 24th 1585, at St. Katherine by the Tower; the christening of Madelaine, daughter of Jonas and Elisabette Menier, on November 4th 1610, at Threadneedle Street French Huguenot Church; and the christening of Mara, daughter of Samuel and Susanna Menear, at St. Mary's, Marylebone Road, on March 27th 1825. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Manhare, which was dated October 22nd 1560, christened at St. Mary Somerset, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.
Discovering the historical roots of meneer is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The history of the surname meneer is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of meneer. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname meneer is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname meneer. It is common for surnames like meneer to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname meneer provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The historical chronicle of meneer is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The historical journey of the surname meneer can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of meneer. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname meneer, 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 meneer developed.
We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname meneer, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname meneer, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. 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 meneer and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished meneers throughout human history. Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all meneers who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname meneer were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname meneer who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of meneer. It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname meneer. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of meneer are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of meneer, and at the same time, of surnames in general.