An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Meier

by Friedrich Kluge

Meier, n., ‘head-servant on an estate, land-steward, farmer,’ from MidHG. meier, meiger, m., OHG. meior, meier, m.; it corresponds to the early MidLat. major domus, which lit. denoted ‘the steward of the household servants’; hence OHG. and MidHG. meier, ‘steward of an estate, manager or lessee of an estate.’ From Lat. major, Fr. maire is also derived.