Surname Melzner - Meaning and Origin
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Melzner: What does the surname Melzner mean?
The last name Melzner is a German surname of unknown origin that first appeared in records in the 1500s. It was initially found in Bavaria, Germany, but is also common in Slovenia, Austria and some parts of Eastern Europe and North America. The name is derived from the name Melz, which is thought to have been derived from the German malzen, meaning to crush or mingle. It could also have come from the Middle High German and Middle Low German metzelen, meaning to hammer or beat. The name Melzner may therefore have initially indicated a blacksmith or a person in the iron manufacture or hammering trades. Additionally, the name may have derived from the law term "Malzgewand", meaning a cloth or tunic made from linen and wool for military purposes, and may have indicated someone in this line of work.
Today, the Melzner name is prevalent in countries throughout the world, such as the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia as descendants have carried the name to those places. It is an uncommon name, with the most common variation of Melzner being Melzer. The last name is also sometimes found with spelling variations, such as Melznar or Melznner.
Order DNA origin analysisMelzner: Where does the name Melzner come from?
The surname Melzner is believed to have originated in Prussia, a historical region in Central and Eastern Europe. It is most common in Germany, Poland, and communities of people descended from German immigrants living in North America.
In terms of Germany, it is a popular surname; the official population register registers over 12,500 people with the melzner surname. It is especially common in Bavaria, where over 2,200 people bear the name. Other states in which Melzner is found include North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin and Schleswig-Holstein.
In the US, the Melzner surname can be found in 30 states across the country. FamilySearch notes that the states with the highest population numbers of Melzners are California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with over 350 individuals living in each of those states.
Melzner is also found in Canada and Australia where it is slightly less common. Canadian Melzners are most commonly settled in the Greater Toronto Area, while Australian Melzners are concentrated in the country’s major urban centers, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
The origins of the Melzner name remain unknown. However, some believe it is derived from the German phrase "Melzner Körs", roughly meaning “Mr. Miller”, thereby implying that there was an ancient Miller family from which the Melzner surname derives.
Variations of the surname Melzner
Melzner is a surname with origins traceable to Germany and Austria, which were formerly part of the Holy Roman Empire. It is most likely derived from the Latin word, "melior" meaning “better”.
Variants of the surname Melzner include Melzer, Melzar, Melzher, Malzner, and Malzar. In some cases, it may also be written as Melznor, Melznar, and Melcnare.
In Germany, the name is often spelled as Melzinger or Melziger, and in Austria, it is sometimes spelled as Melznern or Melznere. This same surname can also be found in various spellings in other countries across Europe, including Melzberg in Switzerland, Melezen in the Netherlands, and Milzner in Sweden.
Surnames derived from Melzner include Messner, Metzner, Müsner,Mesner, Meller, Mühler, Millar, Millner, Melchert, Molchert, Molzer, and Mallert.
In the United States, Melzner is most commonly found spelled as Melzner, Melzer, Messner, and Metzner. It is thought to have come to America around the late 17th century, when many European immigrants settled in the country in search of a better life.
Although rarely seen, there are also a few instances of Melznerer in family records across the US. This variant spelling is most likely due to a transcribing error from the German Melzner to the English Melznerer.
Regardless of the spelling, the surname Melzner is found throughout Europe and America today, and its variants and offshoots remain in use.
Famous people with the name Melzner
- Ralph Melzner: German political scientist and economist;
- Helmut Melzner: German biologist;
- Holger Melzner: German marine ecologist;
- David Melzner: German actor;
- Sabine Melzner: Austrian hurdler;
- Elisabeth Melzner: German politician;
- Marlies Melzner: Austrian ski jumper;
- Annemarie Melzner: German sprinter;
- Adolf Melzner: German cross-country skier;
- Karl Melzner: Austrian former hockey player;
- Torsten Melzner: German former football player;
- Reinhold Melzner: Austrian former ski jumper;
- Gerhard Melzner: Austrian hockey referee;
- Anton Melzner: German ice hockey player.