This most interesting surname, of Czecho-German origin, is a German diminutive of a Continental Germanic personal name "Maino", "Meino", which is a short form of the various compound names with the first element "magin", meaning strength, might. An example of a personal name composed of this initial element is "Mainhard" derived from "magin", strength, and "hard", hardy, brave, strong, and this gives us the surname "Maynard" today. The name is also found in Czechoslovakia, as Bohemia and Morovia were heavily subjected to German cultural and linguistic influences from the Middle Ages onwards, being administratively a Crownland of Austria until 1918. Hence this influence is reflected in the many Czech surnames derived from German. In Czechoslovakia, Michael Maindl was born to Christoph and Eva Maindl on February 27th 1658, at Schoenau, Krashce; and Joannes G. Meindl was born on July 22nd 1669, at Graishitz, Krasche. In Germany, Barbara, daughter of Matthias and Apollonia Mainsl was christened on August 3rd 1712, at Oberpfalz, Roding Bayern; while at Schwarzwaldkre, Gundrigen, Wuertt, Clara, daughter of Johannes and Barbara Maintel was christened on August 8th 1730. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Magdalena Meindl, which was dated April 6th 1632, marriage to Johann Wenninger, at Niederbayern, Ruhmannfelden, Bayern, during the reign of Ferdinand 11, Hapsburg Holy Roman Emperor, 1619 - 1637. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.