Surname Mesterknecht - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mesterknecht: What does the surname Mesterknecht mean?
The last name Mesterknecht is derived from the German language and is composed of two words: "Meister," meaning master, and "Knecht," meaning servant. The name reflects the status of its original bearers, who were skilled tradesmen or craftsmen who served under a master or ruler.
In medieval German society, the Mesterknecht family would have been part of the status of a gentry or nobility, albeit one which lacked the position of lordship they may have desired. These craftsmen held a privileged place among non-noble tradesmen and could enjoy a degree of financial security.
Originally, the designation of "Mesterknecht" may have suggested a relationship to another noble family. For example, if a Mesterknecht craftsman worked for a lord, the lord might reward him with special privileges, such as subsidies and land grants. Such privileges were a way for the lord to recognize and reward the contribution of the Mesterknecht craftsman.
The Mesterknecht family is a proud name that symbolizes a history of skilled labor and close associations with landowners and nobility. Today the name may signify the skills of a master craftsman, an acknowledgment of an outstanding achievement, or even a claim of privilege based on historical ties to nobility.
Order DNA origin analysisMesterknecht: Where does the name Mesterknecht come from?
The last name Mesterknecht is thought to originate from Germany, and records of the surname date back to the 13th century in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Today, the name is still found in Germany, particularly in the Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse states.
In the US, the name is relatively uncommon but has been recorded since the 19th century. The largest populations of the Mesterknecht surname are found in the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota - most likely due to German American immigration at that time. Outside of those three states, the name is quite rare.
Mesterknecht has also been found in countries such as the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada (primarily in Ontario). As with the US, the populations are significantly smaller than those found in Germany.
Overall, while the name Mesterknecht is most commonly found in Germany, there is a scattering of people bearing the name throughout the world. The US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia all have small numbers of people with the Mesterknecht surname. As a result, if you are looking for a Mesterknecht relative, Germany and its surrounding regions is likely the best place to start your search.
Variations of the surname Mesterknecht
The surname Mesterknecht is believed to derive ultimately from the medieval German profession of Meisterschneider, meaning ‘master tailor’ or ‘master cutter’.
The surname Mesterknecht has many variants, spellings, and related surnames. Some common variants are Mesterknecht, Meisterknecht, Meisterknechth, Meisterchnacht, Meisterenknecht, and Mesterknecht.
The surname can also be spelled with variations such as Masterenknecht, Mastrknecht, and Masstrkoche. Other spellings include: Mestrknot, Mesterknicht, Mastrknechte, Mastrenknecht, Mesztrknecht, Masteknewet, and Messerknecht.
There are also related surnames, including Master, Masters, Masterman, Mastermanch, Mestrutsch, and Mestreck.
The surname Mesterknecht was commonly used in the area of Central Germany, particularly in the Sauerland, and in the Rubeland region near Dortmund.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname could have gone through an evolution over the years, so one may find a spelling such as Meisterknecht to be a variation of the same name.
The meaning of the surname, however, remains the same: ‘master tailor’ or ‘master cutter’. The name is also associated with the profession of tailoring and cutting.
Famous people with the name Mesterknecht
- Sabine Mesterknecht: German actress best known for her performances in "Der Grosse Bellheim" and "Der Weg ins Freie"
- Elmar Mesterknecht: German freelancing filmmaker, photographer and editor, currently living in Hamburg
- Markus Mesterknecht: German sound engineer and music producer, currently based in Berlin
- Gabriel Mesterknecht: German producer and creative director, based in London
- Matthias Mesterknecht: German artist and sculptor, based in Düsseldorf
- Monika Mesterknecht: German fashion designer, based in Köln
- Stephan Mesterknecht: German actor, producer and director, based in Berlin
- Thomas Mesterknecht: German investigative journalist and writer, based in Munich
- Johannes Mesterknecht: German actor and television presenter, based in Berlin
- Dirk Mesterknecht: German singer and songwriter, based in Munich