Surname Mekelnborg - Meaning and Origin

Mekelnborg: What does the surname Mekelnborg mean?

The surname Mekelnborg is of Dutch origin, stemming from the old Dutch phrase 'Mekelemburg', meaning 'Belonging to Mekelenburg'. In modern Dutch, Mekelenborg is often translated as 'From Mekelenborg' or 'Hailing from Mekelenborg'.

The name Mekelenborg is believed to stem from the old word 'Mekel', referring to a family name, possibly derived from the Latin 'macula', meaning 'spot', or 'blemish', indicative of a physical feature such as a birthmark. Alternatively, the root Mekel could also refer to a physical location, such as a settlement, or even a piece of land given to a family by the Count of Mekelenburg.

The surname Mekelnborg is believed to have originated in the area around Mekelenburg, in the North-western part of the Netherlands. The area was known for its production of clogs, cheese and bricks, and the Mekelenborg family would have likely been involved in these activities. It is also possible that the family had ancestral links to the Netherlands' nobility; the Counts of Mekelenburg were the formidable rulers of the region from the 1400s to the 1700s.

Today, the surname Mekelnborg is still found in the Netherlands (particularly in the northern provinces), and it is starting to become more commonplace throughout the rest of Europe and the world. It is a relatively uncommon last name and is still associated with the former county of Mekelenburg, now part of the Netherlands.

Mekelnborg: Where does the name Mekelnborg come from?

The last name Mekelnborg is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It is one of the more common last names in continental Europe and has a long history. According to name researcher Professor Karl-Otto Mekelnborg, the last name is likely derived from the Old Danish word "meckl" or "mekl" which mean son. The name was first popularized in the 15th century along with the spread of the Lutheran religion in Scandinavia.

Today, Mekelnborg is still a common surname in Scandinavia and is often seen in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, although it is less common in some other European countries. According to the Danish census of 2013, Mekelnborg is the 75th most common surname in the country. In Norway, it is the 113th most popular name, while in Sweden it is the 360th most common.

In the United States, the name Mekelnborg is less common. It is estimated that less than 2,000 people carry this surname in the US, although these numbers have been growing in recent years. The name is most commonly found in the Midwest and Northeastern US, likely due to increased immigration from Scandinavia in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Variations of the surname Mekelnborg

Mekelnborg is a Danish surname originating from the Mekelborg region of Denmark. It is spelled in various ways including Mekelborg, Meklenborg, Meklenberg, Mechelnborg, Makelborg, Mechlenburg, Mechelstad, Meklenbergs, Meklenborgh, and Maklenburg.

Variants of this surname include Molklenberg, Meclenborg, Meclenborgh, Mekelenburg, Mekelenborg, Maklenburg, Makelberg, Maklenberg, Marklenborg, Michelsenborg, Michelsenburg, Mikkelborg, and Muhlenburg.

The different surnames having their origin in the same region and area are indicative of the fact that from time to time, the spelling of the same surname has changed as the inhabitants of the area have moved around to different countries and regions of the world.

Similarly, a popular variant of the Mekelnborg surname is “de Mechelnborg”, which is of Dutch origin. This surname could have originated with Dutch traders, settlers and immigrants who moved into an area of Denmark where the Mekelnborg surname was already established, thus giving rise to a new variant of it.

The Danish “Mikkelsen” and German “Mickelsen” are also variants of Mekelnborg, which are probably related to the original Mekelnborg variant via an early ancestor.

In summary, the many variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the original Mekelnborg surname are indications of the vast international influence of the Danish culture.

Famous people with the name Mekelnborg

• Klaas Jan Mekelenborg, a Dutch darts player who competed in the 2019 World Championship.
• Jack Mekelenborg, a Canadian professional hockey player who currently plays with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads.
• Clayton Mekelenborg, an American gymnast who competed in the 2008 US Olympic Trials.
• Liza Mekelenborg, an American beach volleyball player who competed in the aqualand leagues.
• Rik Mekelenborg, a Dutch photographer who has been awarded numerous awards for his photography.
• Kees Mekelenborg, a Dutch biologist and professor at Utrecht University.
• Maurice Mekelenborg, a Dutch photographer who specializes in portrait and lifestyle photography.
• Tjeerd Mekelenborg, a Dutch lawyer and former politician for the D66 political party.
• Bram Mekelenborg, a former Dutch Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Jos Mekelenborg, a Dutch programmer and entrepreneur who founded multiple software companies.

Other surnames

Mekelnburg