Surname Jahrmark - Meaning and Origin
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Jahrmark: What does the surname Jahrmark mean?
The last name Jahrmark is believed to be of Germanic origin, first appearing in the form "Jahrmark" in records from the 12th century. It is derived from a combination of two words: ‘jahr’, meaning year, and ‘mark’, meaning market or boundary, or from ‘jahr’ meaning year and ‘march’ meaning boundary.
This likely indicates that those with the Jahrmark surname are descended from people who were involved in year-long markets, or those who lived in an area marked by a year-round boundary. This could include merchants, traders, or merchants who lived in a given area during a fixed period of time.
In some cases, though, the Jahrmark name could also mean “a year’s boundary” – a reference to a boundary that was maintained for a year or longer. This could refer to a region or a village where people stayed for a year or longer.
Regardless of the literal meaning, the Jahrmark surname has been a part of Germany-based culture and tradition for centuries. Today, those with the Jahrmark surname are often found in large numbers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. There are also many descendants of the Jahrmark surname in the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisJahrmark: Where does the name Jahrmark come from?
The last name Jahrmark is most common in Germany today. Records from 2014 put the number of people living in the country with the surname Jahrmark at 843.
This is a very old German surname, derived from words meaning “year” and “market.” It likely comes from someone who engaged in commerce in a market during the year and was identified by their profession. The earliest known record of this name was from 1636 in Munich, Germany.
The surname is most common in western Germany, with the highest concentrations in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria. These are all regions that border the North Sea.
It’s not an especially common name outside of Germany, though certain parts of Europe have seen records of families with the surname. Records of the name have also been found in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Having said that, the vast majority of people who bear the name Jahrmark live in Germany still. Families have been living in the country for hundreds of years, maintaining their surname for generations. This is a testament to the sheer lasting power of this old German name.
Variations of the surname Jahrmark
Jahrmark is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word jar or jahr, meaning ‘year,’ and mark, meaning ‘market’ or ‘festival.’
The surname Jahrmark is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a merchant who attended yearly markets or festivals, or one who heralded the market's coming each year.
Variants of the surname Jahrmark include Jarmark, Jahrmakr, Jahrmärker, Jahrmarker, Jahrmacher, Jahrmucher, Jahrmair, Jarmarke, Jarmarcke, Jarmarche, Jarmarch, Jarmarker, Jarmarcher, and Jarmucher.
Spellings of the surname Jahrmark or its variants include yearmarke, jarmark, and jahrmaerke.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Jahrmark include Jarmarker, Jahrmacher, and Jahrmucher, Jahrmair, Jarmarker, Jahrmakr, Jahrmärker, and Jahrmeker.
A few rare additional surnames for the same origin are Jahrmash, Jahrmasheder, Jahrmann, and Jahrmayer.
The Jahrmark surname was most likely found in areas of Germany, such as Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is still quite common in Germany today.
Famous people with the name Jahrmark
- Mats Jahrmark: a Swedish DJ and producer specializing in house and techno music.
- Tobias Jahrmark: an American sculptor and installation artist.
- Clancy Jahrmarkt: an American contemporary painter.
- Alvaro Jahrmarkt– a German musician, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
- Anette Jahrmarkt– a German singer-songwriter and producer.
- Winifred Jahrmarkt– an American playwright, director, and actress.
- Anke Jahrmarkt– a German ballet dancer, teacher, and dance historian.
- Dagny Jahrmarkt– a Swedish author, poet, director, and illustrator.
- Wendla Jahrmarkt– a Swedish actress and author.
- Ilmar Jahrmarkt– a Swedish painter and printmaker.