Surname Molder - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Molder: What does the surname Molder mean?
The surname Molder is believed to come from the occupational background of creating or 'molding' something, much like Smith comes from blacksmith. Its origins trace back to Old English pre 7th century. Derived from the word 'molda', it was typically given to someone who made vessels, utensils, or containers from a mold. Essentially, an individual with the last name Molder would have ancestors who were potters, iron workers, metal casters, or craftsmen who were proficient in molding various materials. Therefore, this surname originally served as a means to denote an individual's occupation. Additionally, the name has various spellings including Moulder, Mould, Mole and variations related to occupations like Mouldmaker or Mouldman. Its usage over centuries across many regions also could have embedded different ethnic and regional connotations within its meaning. Therefore, while crafts related to molding is a primary source of origin, the meaning of Molder can slightly differ based on its historical and geographical usages.
Order DNA origin analysisMolder: Where does the name Molder come from?
The last name Molder is primarily of German origin and is found primarily in Germany and the United States. In Germany, Molder can be found especially in the north, especially in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. In the United States, the Molder name is most commonly found in southern regions, specifically in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, though it is also present throughout all parts of the country.
Molder is almost certainly a patronymic name derived from the Germanic personal name Magnum, which is the Latin form of the German element 'molde' and translates to mean "might" or "protection". This suggests that many bearers of the Molder name belonged to a special class of people, or perhaps even had some kind of role in protecting those in their community.
This name is found most frequently in records dating back to the 1500s and 1600s; during this time, the Molder family was already established in the town of Valwig (near Koblenz, in German Rhineland). By the mid-1700s, some families had migrated to the US and began to establish new branches of the same name in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.
In modern times, it is estimated that there are more than 49,000 people with the last name Molder living in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the most prevalent states with Molder residencies were Pennsylvania, California, New York, Ohio, and Texas in descending order.
Variations of the surname Molder
The surname Molder is of German origin and has several variants and spellings. One of the most common spellings is Müller, which is both the German and Dutch spelling of the name. Other spellings include Muller, Millar, Miller, Muler, Molinari, Molinero, Moliner, Mueler, Mular, Muliar, Mullar, Mulara and Motler.
The origin of Molder is derived from Middle High German, where it was used to refer to the occupation of miller. This was a person who owned, worked or rented a grain mill, which was essential to facilitate the grinding of flour and corn for bread.
The Molder surname is also found in other countries besides Germany, such as France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. In France and Switzerland, it is also spelled Moullier or Mullier. In Italy, it may be found with the spellings Mulieri and Molieri.
The Molder surname is a patronymic surname, meaning that it was derived from a personal name of the father of the original bearer. In the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from the first name of the father. It has been suggested that some of the variants such as Millar, Miller, and Mileur could in fact all be derived from the personal name Milo.
No matter the spelling, all variants of a surname are related. It is therefore likely that all people who carry the Molder surname are in some way related, even if those relationships are far distant.
Famous people with the name Molder
- Mike Molder: Baseball pitcher and hitting coach
- Stan Molder: Auto racing driver
- Robert Molder: Professional golfer
- John Molder: Politician and former United States Representative
- Joe Molder: Professional soccer player
- Juan Molder: Professional Latin American soccer player
- Tate Molder: British Actor
- Kenneth Molder: Musician and composer
- Justin Molder: Professional surfer
- Mandy Molder: Professional figure skater