Meister
A German surname meaning “master” or “craftsman,” often originally given to someone of skill or authority in a trade or office.
The #4,496 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 39,156 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Meister is the German word for “master,” from Middle High German meister and ultimately Latin magister, “teacher” or “chief.” As a surname, it usually began as an occupational name for a master craftsman, guild leader, or other person of standing and expertise. In some cases it could also mark someone serving in an official role where "master" had a technical or administrative sense.
History
The name is common in German-speaking areas and often appears in compounds such as Sutermeister or Werckmeister, which point to particular trades or duties. Historical surname dictionaries also note Dutch forms such as de Meester, showing the same root across neighboring languages. In immigrant communities, Meister was sometimes retained as-is, while in older English records it could be translated or treated as equivalent to "Master."
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old occupational compounds in German can preserve the trade directly in the surname, and Meister is one of the clearest examples of a name that literally means the skilled head of the craft.
From the historical record
“Offic. * the mayor,' an importation. Dutch, burgomaster \ Ger. BArge- meister, London, i, i ; New York, 4, 3 ; Phila^ i delphia, a, i.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)