Meer Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Origins of Meer:
The Meer surname considered acquiring from either the Old English word “mere,” which means “pond,” or from “maere,” which meant “boundary.”  In either example, the name was probably Geographic, taken on by a person who resided near one these features.  Spelling variations of this family name include as Meares, Mear, Mears, Meer, Meere and much more.

Variations:
More common variations are: Meyer, Meier, Maeer, Meere, Mewer, Meera, Meuer, Meero, Meeri, Meery.

England:
The surname Meer first appeared in Somerset at Meare, a hamlet, and civil church in the union of Wells, hundred of Glaston-Twelve-Hides, north-west of Glastonbury.  Nearby is Meare Lake Village, the site of an Iron Age settlement.  The Abbot’s Fish House was built in the 14th century when Adam of Sodbury was the abbot of Glastonbury Abbey. One of the first recordings of the place name was as Mere, which noted in the Domesday Book of 1086.  The place name means “place at the pool or lake.”

United States of America:
Individuals with the surname Meer landed in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 18th and 19th.  Some of the people with the name Meer who arrived in the United States in the 18th century included John Meer, who naturalized in Philadelphia in the year 1798. The following century saw more Meer surnames arrive.  Some of the people with the surname Meer who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Thomas Meer, who naturalized in Pennsylvania in the year 1802.  Isaac Van Der Meer and his family, who settled in Iowa in the year 1849.  Ant J Vander Meer, who landed in Iowa in the year 1849.  Dirk Vander Meer, who arrived in Iowa in the year 1849.  Frans Vander Meer who landed in Iowa in the same year 1849.

Australia:
Some of the individuals with the surname Meer who landed in Australia in the 19th century included Mary Meer at the age of 20, a housemaid, arrived in South Australia in the year 1854 aboard the ship “Emerald Isle.”  Thomas Meer at the age of 24, a farm laborer, arrived in South Australia in the year 1857 aboard the ship “Navarino.”  Catherine Meer at the age of 16, a domestic servant, arrived in South Australia in the year 1858 aboard the ship “Bee.”

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Sherborn, co. Dorset). Az. a chev. betw. three mullets of six points or. Crest—An eagle’s head couped or, the mouth embrued gu.
2) (cos. Dorset and Durham). Sa. a chev. or, betw. three water bougets erm. Crest—A demi dogfish.