Surname Mesker - Meaning and Origin
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Mesker: What does the surname Mesker mean?
The last name Mesker is a surname of German or Dutch origin, and is derived from the word, meske, which means meadow or marsh. In its earliest forms, the Mesker surname was spelled in a variety of ways, including Massker, Mesker, Mascher, Masker, Messker, and Maskar.
The Mesker name is quite ancient, and the first recorded usage of the Mesker name dates back to the mid-1400s in Germany. The Topography of Germany from the 15th century refers to an area in Bavaria called Meskeswurfland, where there were numerous Mesker families living. The name is found primarily in Germany and Belgium, although variants of the name have spread across Europe and to other countries, including the United States and Canada.
In the early 1800s, many members of the Mesker family emigrated to the US, where they were among the first German immigrants to settle in the Midwest states. In the United States, the Mesker name is most commonly associated with the city of Evansville, Indiana, where a large Mesker family built a highly successful business and developed an extensive network of relatives.
Over the centuries, Meskers have made an indelible mark on history. The Mesker name has been associated with famous figures in politics, business, and culture, including US president James Garfield, industrialist Rich Mesker, fashion and style icon Karl Lagerfeld, and actor and producer Robert Mesker.
Order DNA origin analysisMesker: Where does the name Mesker come from?
The last name Mesker is most common today in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. The earliest known Mesker ancestors in America lived in Pennsylvania, arriving there in the late 1700s from Germany. From Pennsylvania, the Meskers migrated to Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri as settlers to these states.
Today, the Mesker surname is common in the larger cities in the Midwest, such as Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. It is also found in rural areas throughout those states. The surname is also found in northern states, such as Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Mesker name is particularly common in the states of Indiana and Illinois, where more than twelve thousand individuals were counted with the name in the U.S. Census of 2020. A large number of these individuals are direct descendants of the original Mesker settlers in the region.
The name Mesker is also found around the world, primarily in Western Europe in countries with heavy German influences, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Furthermore, the name is also found in countries in the Americas and Australia.
Variations of the surname Mesker
The surname Mesker is of Dutch origin and is derived from the name Messcher, which itself is derived from the Dutch root word “mascheren” meaning “to trim” or “peel”. The spelling of the surname and its variants can vary widely depending on the geographical location. In the United States, the forms of Mesker most often encountered include Meeker, Mescher, Mescher, Messer, Meske, Mestcher, Mescher, and Meschke.
The surname Mesker can also take on different forms depending on the region. In the Netherlands, the forms most commonly encountered include Messcher and Messer. In Germany, it is commonly spelled as Mescher and Meschke. In Austria, the spelling is sometimes seen as Meschere or Mescherer.
In England, the Russian form of the surname is mostly seen as Meschkroft. There is also an Americanized form of the surname which is seen as Meyscricke. The Italian form of the surname is Meschiari, and the Dutch form is Messchers.
Due to the fact that the spellings of the surname Mesker can vary based on the language, dialect, and spelling traditions of the local population, it is best to keep an open mind when researching this surname. To find out more about the surname Mesker, it is best to consult books, articles, and other sources dedicated to genealogy and surname research.
Famous people with the name Mesker
- Red Mesker: A well-known former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager who established a long tenure in professional baseball.
- Jacob Mesker: An American classical music conductor and music director who was the director of the Wisconsin Bach Chamber Orchestra from 1979: 1985.
- Robert Mesker: A prominent, 19th century American Civil War veteran and circuit court judge in northern Indiana.
- James R. Mesker: An American publisher and author. He founded the publishing company Primedia in 1995.
- John Vander Mesker: A Dutch farmer and early colonist of what would later become New York State.
- Bob Mesker: An American basketball coach who was involved with Indiana high school basketball for over forty years.
- Gary Mesker: An international business developer and philanthropist.
- Frank Mesker: An American film and television art director, and production designer.
- Heinrich Mesker: A German immigrant and businessman who founded Mesker Brothers Iron Works in St. Louis, Missouri in 1875.
- Bodil Mesker: A Dutch artist and textile designer.