Surname Messemer - Meaning and Origin
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Messemer: What does the surname Messemer mean?
The surname Messemer is an occupational surname from Germany and is derived from either a root word meaning 'messenger' or 'guardian'. As an occupational surname, Messemer often indicated that someone in the family was a messenger, dependent, or a watcher of a lord's possessions, such as their farms. The Messemer surname is found in different versions throughout Europe, often spelled Messer, Masser, or Meser.
In some cases, the surname Messemer might have evolved from the German nicknames of Meissel or Meisel which means someone who has a notably large sized nose or someone who was of a slight build with long thin limbs.
The Messemer surname is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. It is also found in several states within the United States, such as Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York. By the time of the American Civil War in the 19th century, several Messemers had emigrated to the U.S. and several generations later, there are hundreds of Messemer family members living in America.
Today, those with the surname Messemer still live in the same areas as their ancestors did, although many have ventured to other states or countries. Its meaning as an occupational surname continues to be held in reverence and many Messemers have carried the family name forward through generations, honoring the legacy of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisMessemer: Where does the name Messemer come from?
The last name Messemer is commonly associated with the region of Bavaria, in the southeastern corner of Germany. It is primarily found in the cities and towns that span the Bavarian region and small pockets within Germany's neighboring countries. The last name Messemer is also fairly common in the United States, where it was first brought over by immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the families with the Messemer surname are primarily found in the Midwest and South regions of the US.
Messemer families are most heavily concentrated in the states of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has a disproportionately high number of Messemer surname holders, much more than other cities in the region. The Messemer family name also appears frequently throughout the Midwest, including in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. In the South, the surname can be found in higher numbers in the states of Arkansas, Texas, and Georgia.
The gender breakdown of the Messemer surname holders in the US is roughly even, suggesting that the family name has been passed down regularly to offspring. It is likely that several lineages of Messemer families can be found throughout the US Midwest and South, all of whom trace their ancestry back to Bavaria and the original Messemer surname holders.
Variations of the surname Messemer
Messemer is a German surname which originated from the old German name Maso. It is a spelling variation of the surname Maßeimer, which is common in southern and western Germany. Variations and alternate spellings of Messemer include Mesemer, Messmer, Masemer, Massemer and Massimer.
Most of these variants are found in southern Germany and Austria, as well as in North America, where Messemer and its variations are especially popular in Canada and the United States. It is also a frequent occurrence in the Netherlands, France, and other parts of Europe.
The surname Maßeimer is also found in Germany and has several spellings that are derived from it. Those include Massheimer, Ma Capemer, Maesle, Masseimer, Majsamer, and Meslema. In addition, some variants are occasionally encountered from Egypt and the Mediterranean region, such as Mamserm, Maucerm, and Mecem.
Other variants, such as Meseimer, Messamore, Messenmeir and Missimer, have been documented, but are much rarer. These were likely geographically limited when used and have since mostly faded away.
Messemer is an extremely old family name and is still found in many places in the world. It is thought to come from the Latin word for table, mensa, and is believed to be linked to either tavern keepers or hospitality in the past. As time passed, the variants of the surname multiplied and have since spread around the world.
Famous people with the name Messemer
- Marlene Dietrich: was a German-American actress and singer who held both German and American citizenship.
- Max Messemer: was a German actor and director who was known for his roles in several German films of the silent era.
- Maximilian Messemer: was a German stage and film actor from the early German film industry.
- Günther Messemer: was a German actor best known for his role as Major Strasser in the 1942 film “Casablanca”.
- Herbert Messemer: was a German actor and screenwriter who was active in the early days of sound films.
- Helga Messemer: was a German actress who appeared in several German films during the silent and sound era.
- Karl Messemer: was a German cinematographer and director active during the Weimar Republic.
- Dieter Messemer: was a German film actor who appeared in several German films during the 1990s.
- Barbara Messemer: was an American actress who appeared in several television series in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Wolf Messemer: was a German actor known for his roles in several films and TV series from the 1960s to the 1990s.