Surname Messecar - Meaning and Origin

Messecar: What does the surname Messecar mean?

The surname Messecar is believed to have originated from the medieval surname Maschar, which is thought to ultimately derive from the Middle English mascherde, meaning “disguise” or “mask”. During the medieval period, it likely referred to someone who earned a living by dressing up in costumes to entertain people at public events.

The family name Messecar is also thought to have evolved from an early French form of the name, Massecar. This word is derived from the Old French mesquiner, which could mean “to be inquisitive” or “to act wily.” This could also provide a clue about the original bearer of the Messecar surname – someone who was inquisitive, sly, or deceptive.

In more recent times, the Messecar surname is likely of British origin. It is believed to have been adopted by families who moved to England from France during the early 17th century. At this time, it is thought that the Messecar surname was primarily found in the area of Cornwall.

Today, the Messecar surname is not especially prevalent and is mostly found in England, Canada, Australia, and the United States. While the original meaning of the name is not known with certainty, the Messecar surname has likely survived through the centuries to reflect the personality of its original bearer -- a clever and inquisitive person.

Messecar: Where does the name Messecar come from?

The Messecar surname is of German origin, and a sizeable population of the Messecar surname can be found in the United States. The largest concentration of Messecar households is in the states of Michigan and Ohio. The 2000 US census recorded over 270 Messecar households in Michigan, and over 170 households in Ohio. There is also a moderate presence of the Messecar surname in Canada, primarily in the province of Ontario, with 119 Messecar households recorded in the 2016 Canadian census.

Aside from North America, there is a lesser concentration of the Messecar surname in the United Kingdom. The 2020 UK census found 56 Messecar households spread throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. Additionally, the Messecar surname is also found in other European countries, including France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Outside of North America and Europe, the Messecar surname is also found in Australia. The 2016 Australian census reported 130 Messecar households in the country, most of which were concentrated in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. Lastly, smaller populations of Messecar households can be found in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji, in the Asia-Pacific nations of Indonesia and Singapore, and in the South American country of Uruguay.

Variations of the surname Messecar

Messecar is a very rare surname, and there does not appear to be any significant variants, spellings or surnames of the same origin. The surname itself is likely a corruption of the French or Dutch surname Messecar, which could have been taken from either the Dutch 'Messekarre' or the French 'Messecarre.' The former is derived from the Middle Dutch ‘messenkare’ or ‘mescaren’ meaning ‘cutter’ and the latter is derived from the Middle French ‘messecaire’ meaning a ‘ship hoist’ or ‘crane’.

The surname is almost exclusively found in the United States and is thought to have been adopted from immigrants arriving in the late 1800s or early 1900s, mostly from Belgium. Normally, surnames derived from French or Dutch sources would have differing alternative spellings, however, it appears that the source of the Messecar surname has been limited to one version.

Although the surname is very rare in the United States, if one were to carry out a search of French and Dutch archival records, it is possible that there have been variants or different spellings over the years in Europe. In addition, there could be spellings of the same origin as the spelling Messecar have names such as 'Messicker' or 'Messecher.' However, aside from this, there are no known variants, spellings or surnames of the same origin for the name Messecar.

Famous people with the name Messecar

• Libby Messecar: An American fashion and lifestyle brand founder.
• Milburn Messecar: A professional hockey player and coach
• Dudley Messecar: A Major League Baseball umpire
• Bob Messecar: A Canadian former alpine skier
• Frank Messecar: The brother of Bob Messecar, also a Canadian alpine skier
• Len Messecar: The father of Bob and Frank Messecar, a renowned professional skier trainer
• Christine Messecar: An American artist and portrait painter
• Winston Messecar: An Associate Professor of History at York University in Toronto
• Terry Messecar: An American Democrat politician
• Ted Messecar: A jazz guitarist

Other surnames

Messec