Surname Mehlkopp - Meaning and Origin
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Mehlkopp: What does the surname Mehlkopp mean?
The German surname Mehlkopp is an occupational surname indicating a miller or mill keeper. Occupational surnames were common in Germany in medieval times, when most people were limited to a hereditary craft or trade. The name Mehlkopp can be broken down into two components - Mehl, meaning “flour” or “grain” and Kopp, derived from the Middle High German word Kuppe for “vat” or “tub”. This suggests that a member of the Mehlkopp family was the keeper of a mill for grinding grain into flour, earning them the name “Mehlkopp” or “flour-vat".
The Mehlkopp surname is still present today, indicating that the mill-keeping profession was likely of some importance to the family for many generations. Records show that in the late 19th century, the Mehlkopp surname was most plentiful in the Northwest states of Germany. While not a tremendously common name, those who do carry the Mehlkopp surname can take great pride in the tradition of their forebears.
The Mehlkopp surname carries a sense of history, indicating the legacy of a hard-working, traditional German family. It speaks of a time when a craft or trade was the path of life, an indication of the hard work and dedication of the early members of the Mehlkopp family. Carrying the name is a mark of respect for their skill and craftsmanship, a reminder of the important role they once played as mill keepers within the community.
Order DNA origin analysisMehlkopp: Where does the name Mehlkopp come from?
The last name Mehlkopp is most commonly found in Germany today. There, the name is believed to have first originated in the region of Westphalia, near the Rhine River. The earliest recorded mention of the Mehlkopp name dates back to 1555, in the Cologne region. This area was once part of the historic Duchy of Westphalia.
The Mehlkopp family appears to have spread out through central and northern Germany as far as Bohemia. Today, the most prominent branches of the family have strong ties to East Prussia, where they established several villages. Some of these villages still exist today and there are scattered Mehlkopp families living all across this region.
More recently, several members of the family made their way to the United States in the mid-1800s. This mainly occurred in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Ancestry.com indicates that many of these immigrant families eventually settled in rural farming communities, with notable locations in Wisconsin (Clintonville, Shawano County), Illinois (Meredosia, Morgan County), and Michigan (Carrollton Township, Saginaw County).
Descendants of the Mehlkopp family can also be found in neighboring countries like France and the Netherlands as well as in Australia, Canada, and even Argentina. Many of these families have kept their connection to the name and culture alive.
Variations of the surname Mehlkopp
The surname Mehlkopp is a Germanic name meaning "flour-head." Variants of this name include Mahlkopp, Mehlekopp and Mehlkopf. Other variations of spelling can include Meillkopp, Mehlckopp and Mehlkop. Some surnames derived from the same origin include Mahlkopf, Mehlhoff and Mehlkopf.
Some of the earliest records of the name appear in the Middle Ages, when people were known by a single name. However, over time, as populations became bigger and travel became more common, surnames began to develop to differentiate one person from another. The name Mehlkopp would have become distinct from other names with a similar meaning over the centuries, as more people with the surname moved to different regions and adopted variants.
The German Mehlkopp surname likely originates from areas in the east of Germany, such as Brandenburg and Pommern. It is also found concentrated around areas such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern bordering the region of Pomerania. It is also found in other areas of Europe such as the Czech Republic, Austria and Poland, where the surname is recorded as Mehlekopf, Mahlkopp and Małkopp respectively. During the 1800s, Mehlkopp settled in North America, mainly in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and the surname is now also found in Canada and the United States.
Although the Mehlkopp surname is relatively unique, as with any surname, there are alternate spellings which are derived from the same origin. The variants, and surnames of the same origin, can be used to trace a family tree back to its original form and place of origin.
Famous people with the name Mehlkopp
- Jonathan Mehlkopf: German footballer
- Nils Mehlkopf: German footballer
- Cynthia Mehlkopf: American-based activist and independent producer
- Charles Mehlkopf: American professional poker player
- Sharon Mehlkopf: Founding partner of Mehlkopf Law Offices
- Christa Mehlkopf: Retired German figure skater
- Kern Mehlkopf: German freestyle skier
- Michael Mehlkopf: German manager in the automotive sector
- Laura Mehlkopf: German singer and songwriter
- Christel Mehlkopf: German author and illustrator