Surname Malchert - Meaning and Origin
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Malchert: What does the surname Malchert mean?
The last name Malchert is a German surname derived from the old German elements “mal” meaning “bad” and “kert” meaning “field” or “soil”. Therefore, literally the name translates to someone from a bad or difficult field or a poor soil. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who lived near a barren soil or a soil that was difficult to farm.
The name has a long and deep roots in German history, with records of its use in the Rhineland area along the Rhine River from the mid-14th century. It is also found in Rhineland Palatinate, as well as the areas of Bavaria and Baden in Germany. This name appears in various forms across the German language, including Malcher, Malkert and Melchert.
The most recent decades have seen a significant increase in global migrations due to globalization, causing more people with the Malchert surname to travel abroad. This has created a significant presence of the Malchert surname in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia, as well as other parts of the world.
Malchert is an ancient surname that has continued to gain popularity throughout the centuries, showing that it has truly stood the test of time. Even though its exact origin may have been forgotten, its roots still live on as it is still prevalent among descendants of its original family line.
Order DNA origin analysisMalchert: Where does the name Malchert come from?
The last name Malchert is primarily found in Germany and Austria, though it also has strong roots in the Netherlands. Historically, it likely originated in the Middle Rhine region that sits along the borders of both countries. Over time, the Malchert surname has spread throughout Europe. Today, it is especially prominent in Germany, where a Google search reveals the name to be widely associated with people living in the states of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony.
In the United States, the Malchert surname is much less common. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are only about 100 people living in the country who carry this last name. This suggests that most people with the Malchert surname in the U.S. are descended from German immigrants who arrived in the late 19th or early 20th centuries. A few records show that some people with the Malchert surname migrated to states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Today, it is estimated that there are around 1,000 people with the Malchert surname throughout the world. Though the surname is much more common in Germany and Austria than in the United States, the Malchert surname is still a relatively rare name.
Variations of the surname Malchert
The surname Malchert is a habitational name, derived from a place in Lower Saxony, Germany. It has numerous spellings and variants, including Malcher, Melcher, Malchert, Melchert, Malcherr, and Melcherr. Each of these surname variants derive from the same root name, with slight differences in spelling caused by regional dialects and pronunciations.
The earliest known example of the surname, from 1329 in the region, is spelt Malherti. It appears in subsequent records in 1367 as Malehrdi, and in 1398 as Malherde. Other common variant spellings of the surname include Maalherd, Maalhert, Maalhardt, Malherd, Mallerd, Mallert and Malürde.
In the 17th century, those bearing the surname often used the spelling Maalhert, but some used Mallerdt or even Mallert. In the 19th century, variants began to be recorded using two 'l's, such as Mallerd and Mallerdt. Today, the most common spellings are Malcher, Melcher, Malchert and Melchert.
The surnames of the same origin often take on regional variances when used in other countries. For example, in Austria and Bavaria the surnames Fischer, Fischers, Fische and Laafe are also related to Malchert. These are formed as patronymics from the given name Fischer, which was derived from Middle High German visscher, meaning fisherman. In Hungary, the surname Mesicher is of the same origin, and is derived from the German Middle High German malcher.
Famous people with the name Malchert
- Marian Malchert, former Olympic cyclist from South Africa.
- Camilla Malchert-Nielsen, Danish hurdler.
- Hans Malchert, German sculptor and painter.
- Bjoern Malchert, German canoeist.
- David Malchert, Canadian actor, producer, and director.
- Stephen Malchert, British composer and polymath.
- Reinhold Malchert, Austrian water polo player.
- Kai Malchert, German psychologist and psychotherapist.
- Brigitte Malchert, German dressage rider.
- Antje Malchert, German decathlete.
- Eduardo Malchert, Brazilian footballer.
- Peter Malchert, German football manager.
- Alexander Malchert, German figure skater.
- Mathias Malchert, German footballer.
- Harry Malchert, Australian politician.
- Johannes Malchert, German philosopher and theologian.
- Bene Malchert, Polish music composer and arranger.
- Emma Malchert, British racing driver.
- Tadeusz Malchert, Polish skier.
- Gunther Malchert, German composer and flautist.