Surname Meßmacher - Meaning and Origin
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Meßmacher: What does the surname Meßmacher mean?
The last name Meßmacher is derived from the Middle High German word "messmacher," which translates to "measures." It is thought to be a topographic or occupational name for someone who measured out resources or land parcels, such as when dividing holdings in a village.
Meßmacher is a rare name, with less than 500 people carrying it as their surname. The most concentrated populations of Meßmachers can be found in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with a small number in other countries as well.
The earliest record of the name is dated from 1530 when Ulrich Meßmacher was found living in a small town near Leipzig. In the 1700s several surname-bearers migrated to the United States, settling primarily in Pennsylvania. The name has since spread throughout the country.
The name Meßmacher is a reminder of those who measured out resources and divisions of land in times gone by, and it connects contemporary bearers with their ancestors from the past. It is a name that is linked to history, but it is also one of individuality and unique determination.
Order DNA origin analysisMeßmacher: Where does the name Meßmacher come from?
The last name Meßmacher is a relatively uncommon surname believed to have originated in Germany. It is thought to have derived from Old German words meaning ‘mess’, which would have referred to a job such as a cook or a waiter. Today, the name is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the Rhineland-Palatinate region in the south-west of the country. According to Geni.com, notable persons with this surname include a chief of Bernis, Germany and 17th century scientist and philosopher Johann Meßmacher, as well as the famous 19th century German-American author Karl Meßmacher. Records in Germany’s Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek suggest that it is still very much in use today. For example, in 2006 there were records of a Meßmacher family in the German town of Binderbauer, in Leipzig, and a Meßmacher family in Hahnenmühle.
Outside of Germany, the surname Meßmacher is relatively uncommon, but is found sparsely in other areas of Europe, as well as in North America and even Australia. For example, according to data from the website Forebears.io, there are about 37 people with the surname Meßmacher living in the US, with concentrations in Wisconsin, Texas, Missouri and New York. The website Ancestry.com also appears to record a few instances of Meßmacher’s living in Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand and Australia. However, the surname remains much more widespread in Germany, and is likely to remain so for years to come.
Variations of the surname Meßmacher
Meßmacher is a German surname, which may also be seen spelled as Messmacher or Mesmacher. The surname literally stems from “Messer” meaning a “knife-maker,” and “Macher” meaning “maker” and thus can literally be translated to “Knife-Maker.” As the name suggests, it is likely that the earliest ancestors of families with this surname had their origins in metalworking. It is likely that these metalworkers began to specialize in the manufacture of swords and knives sometime in the 16th century. The surname may have descended from a single individual who was well-known for his craftsmanship, or from the name of the guild that these swordsmiths may have belonged to.
The variants of the surname include: Messer, Messersmith, Meshmacher, Messerschmidt, Messerle, Messerly, etc.
The surname is quite common in Germany and other countries of German-speaking Europe, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. However, it is also quite common in other countries with German immigrant populations, such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and South Africa.
The families who bear the surname Meßmacher can be traced back to at least the 16th century, when the name was first known to have been used. The earliest known recorded reference dates from 1594, in the records of a church in Germany’s Rhineland Palatinate region.
Today, there are many people with Meßmacher surnames in Europe and across the world. In Germany, the surname is still most commonly associated with knife makers, though it is also used by many other families.
Famous people with the name Meßmacher
- Nikolaus Meßmacher, a German composer, musicologist, and teacher
- Michael Meßmacher, a German entomologist
- Hans Meßmacher, a German journalist
- Marius Meßmacher, a German actor
- Uwe Meßmacher, a former German footballer
- Stefan Meßmacher, a German writer
- Jürgen Meßmacher, a German archaeologist and conservationist
- Heinz Meßmacher, an American physicist
- Felix Meßmacher, a German film editor
- Christa Meßmacher, a German mezzo-soprano opera singer