1. "Mayor" or "administrator" - This is the most common and historical meaning of the word. It refers to someone who held a position of authority in a village or community, overseeing administrative matters and often acting as a judge. This meaning is often used as a surname.
2. "Farm manager" or "steward" - In some regions of Germany, "Meier" was used to describe the person managing a large estate or farm, similar to the English "bailiff".
3. "Middleman" - In certain contexts, "Meier" could refer to someone acting as an intermediary or negotiator.
4. "Craftsman" - In some historical instances, "Meier" was also used to describe skilled craftsmen, particularly those working with wood.
5. "Meier" as a surname - Due to its historical meanings, "Meier" is a common surname in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It often indicates family ties to a particular village or region, and can be considered a "place name surname."
Example sentence:
* "Der Meier von Oberdorf war ein strenger Mann." (The mayor of Oberdorf was a strict man.)
* "Der Meier kümmerte sich um die Ernte auf dem Gut." (The farm manager took care of the harvest on the estate.)
To understand the specific meaning of "Meier" in a given context, it's best to consider the surrounding information and the sentence structure.