Where does “Hochmeier” come from?

Hochmeier (German) comes from German hōch, from Middle High German hōch, from Old High German hōh, from Proto-West Germanic hauh, from Proto-Germanic hauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱewk- — flare up, glow; white; to glow, burn, lighten.

Ancestry of “Hochmeier”, step by step

Hochmeier traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German hōch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanhōch
2Middle High Germanhōch
3Old High Germanhōhhigh, tall, elevated
4Proto-West Germanichauhhigh
5Proto-Germanichauhazhigh
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewk-flare up, glow; white; to glow, burn, lighten

via German Meier

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanMeieradministrator or leaseholder of a manor;...
2Old High Germanmeior
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewk-Every word from Proto-Germanic hauhazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic hauh