Surname Massaker - Meaning and Origin
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Massaker: What does the surname Massaker mean?
The last name Massaker is of German origin and is believed to have originated from a place name associated with the pre-7th century German word ‘mac’, which means ‘brother’. The surname Massaker is believed to have developed from a place name associated with the word ‘masc’, a Middle High German word meaning ‘a cutter’ or ‘slaughterer’.
The Massaker surname is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, with a few bearers of the name present in Austria, Canada, and the United States. In the United States, the earliest record of the surname is from 1756 when Johannes Massaker arrived in Pennsylvania.
The literal meaning of this surname is a slaughterer or cutter. It also carries a figurative meaning, that of representing a metaphorical or symbolic reaper of death on the battlefield or of a mass destruction, such as that of a massacre.
The surname Massaker is a descriptive, literal surname that can often reflect the original occupational or geographical origin of the family from which it is derived. Its figurative meaning of mass destruction or slaughter speaks to the past violent history of this family name in Germany and Austria.
Order DNA origin analysisMassaker: Where does the name Massaker come from?
The last name Massaker is of German origin, and is believed to have originated from the Old High German word "masson", meaning "to kill". Today, the surname Massaker is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is also found in other countries with German-speaking populations, such as Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. Additionally, the name Massaker can be found dispersed throughout countries such as the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. This is primarily due to German emigration that occurred during the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly from German-speaking areas of Europe to North America and Scandinavia.
As of 2017, it is estimated that there are over 3,000 people with the surname Massaker living in Germany, making it one of the more common last names. It is also relatively common in the Netherlands, where it is estimated that there are around 2,300 people with the surname. The United States and Canada have the third- and fourth-largest Massaker populations, with over 1,100 and 250 people with the surname, respectively. Worldwide, there are an estimated 8,000 people with the surname, meaning that, for the most part, the last name Massaker is not considered rare.
Variations of the surname Massaker
Massaker is a German, Dutch, and Jewish surname which dates back to sometime in the 16th century when it first appeared in church records. The origin of the name is derived from the Greek word 'masakos' which means 'butcher'. The earliest recorded surname spelling was Masacker and was found in church registers from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Over the centuries the variations Mulmasaker and Muhlmasaker can be found and are thought to be regional in origin.
Variations of Massaker are more commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands, but similar spellings are also found in other parts of the world such as Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden. In the United States spelled variants of the name can be found such as Mascher, Masser, and Messer, while in the United Kingdom the name is spelled Massaker.
Other surnames of the same origin are variations of the spelling of Massaker. This includes Mescher, Mascher-Masscher, Macher/Meecher, Macher, Maecher, Mecher, Muencher, Sanschier, Mancher, Messcher, and Mescher.
In Judaism, variations of the name can be found in spellings such as Mosker, Musiker, Musakar, Musaker, and Masakar. It is thought that these variations originate to families from the Ukraine and Belarus who adopted the surname when they converted to Judaism centuries ago.
Massaker is a multifaceted surname with regional variation and spellings found across Europe and some parts of Asia. It has been used for centuries and continues to be used today.
Famous people with the name Massaker
- Christopher Massaker: American reality television personality best known for his appearance on45th season of The Amazing Race.
- Johannes Massaker: German classical music composer active in the 19th century.
- Gloria Massaker: German painter known for her works inspired by the Expressionist movement and her work focuses on nature Inspired art.
- Oskar Massaker: German actress and producer who gained recognition in Germany and abroad for her work in the theatre and films.
- Paul Massaker: American football coach who served as the 14th head coach of the USC Trojans and led the team to a record 3 consecutive National Championships in 1898, 1899, and 1900.
- Frederick Massaker: American politician who served as a US representative from New York.
- Fritz Massaker: German bacteriologist and microbiologist who is best known for his work on tuberculosis, staphylococcus, streptococcus and proteus.
- Walter Massaker: American composer, songwriter and music producer who is noted for his work with the musical group The Manhattan Transfer.
- Robert Massaker: German professional football player who played as a forward for Hannover 96.
- Zack Massaker: American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.