Meyerhof

Meyerhof is a German surname of occupational origin. It is formed from Meyer, a form of Meier meaning “steward” or “land manager,” combined with hof, meaning “court” or “farm.” The name has appeared in German-speaking regions and in diasporic communities, and it is encountered in historical and contemporary contexts.

Notable individuals with the surname include Otto Fritz Meyerhof, a German physician and biochemist. He is recognized for his work on metabolism, particularly the energy-yielding steps of glycolysis, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1922 for his discoveries concerning the physiology of muscle and energy production. His research contributed to the understanding of how cells generate energy from glucose, laying groundwork that helped form the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas glycolytic pathway. This pathway describes the series of enzymatic reactions by which glucose is converted to pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH in many organisms, and it remains a foundational concept in biochemistry.

Beyond individuals, the surname may appear in genealogical, historical, and biographical contexts. As with many Germanic names, variations in spelling and regional pronunciation have contributed to different renderings over time. In modern times, people bearing the name Meyerhof have contributed to science, medicine, and academia, reflecting the surname’s continued association with scholarly and professional pursuits.