Meigen

Meigen is a German surname. The most notable bearer is Johann Wilhelm Meigen (1764–1845), a German entomologist who is widely regarded as a founder of dipterology, the study of true flies. He produced extensive descriptions and classifications of European Diptera and established many genera and species names still used in modern taxonomy. His major works, published in the early 19th century, offered systematic descriptions of known European two-winged insects, combining detailed morphology with illustrated plates. Meigen’s approach emphasized careful specimen examination, consistent terminology, and the creation of a hierarchical framework for grouping related species, laying the groundwork for subsequent generations of dipterists. While later revisions updated or revised portions of his classifications, his methodological rigor and breadth of documentation helped standardize practice in entomology and inspired further taxonomic work on Diptera across Europe. Beyond his scientific legacy, the surname Meigen appears in historical and genealogical records in German-speaking regions. In academic contexts, Meigen is frequently cited when referencing the early history of fly taxonomy and the development of systematic entomology.