Maurer

Maurer is a surname of German origin meaning bricklayer or mason. The name derives from the occupational term Maurer, which itself comes from Mauer, wall, plus the agent suffix -er, referring to a person who builds or repairs walls and masonry. In German-speaking regions, such occupational surnames became hereditary during the Middle Ages and spread with population movement.

Today the surname Maurer is most common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and is also found among Ashkenazi Jewish families who adopted Germanic surnames. Through emigration, Maurer spread to North America, Israel, and other parts of the world, where descendants continue to carry the name.

Spelling variants occur in records due to regional orthography and transliteration. Common forms include Maurer and Mauer, among others, reflecting historical and geographic differences rather than a single standardized spelling. The name is used by individuals across various professions and socioeconomic backgrounds, not confined to a particular region or trade in contemporary times.

In literature and reference works, Maurer may appear in discussions of Germanic surnames, occupational onomastics, or genealogical studies of families tracing their ancestry to German-speaking regions. The name also appears in place names and historical records related to masonry trades and urban development in medieval and early modern Europe.

See also: Mauer (surname) for related surname discussions.