Surname Melert - Meaning and Origin

Melert: What does the surname Melert mean?

The last name Melert is of German origin and is believed to have originated as a habitational name associated with a settlement called Moorhorst in northern Germany. The surname would have been formed from the two words moor and horst, which were joined together to for the name Moorhorst. In German, horst means wooded hill or 'fort' so the literal meaning of the name Melert is "wooded hill dwelling in the moor".

The moor part of the name is likely derived from the Germanic word "Moor" which is an expansive open country of fen, field, and heath. Moor probably referred to the marshy wetlands that were adjacent to the settlements in Moorhorst.

There are multiple variants of the name including Maulart, Melert, Melart, Melhardt, Melhert etc. Scholars have speculated that the original name may be due to a relocation of a family from a “horst” to an area of near every larger body of water such as a lake, pond, river or stream.

The surname can be found in different countries because of its duration. It can be found in the United States, Germany, and other countries throughout Europe. It is believed that families with the last name Melert may have migrated from Germany beginning in the 16th century.

Melert: Where does the name Melert come from?

The last name Melert is commonly found in some parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, where it is an established surname with a long history. The origin of the name is believed to have come from the German words “mel” meaning “honey” and “erde” meaning “earth” coming together to form an occupational surname for a beekeeper. The surname is also found in other regions where German immigrants have settled, including the US, Canada, and several countries in South America, particularly in Brazil where it is now quite common.

It is also common in other parts of the former German Empire, including Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic. These regions have long had German minorities and many characteristic surnames, such as Melert, have been retained. In the last century, since World War II, a significant number of German citizens have also moved further abroad, particularly to the UK although the German influence in British surnames is often less visible than the French or Latin origin of many British surnames.

In summary, Melert is today typically associated with areas of German influence, both old and new, including Europe, North and South America, and more recently the UK.

Variations of the surname Melert

The surname Melert is a patronymic surname that originated in Germany in the 14th century. It is derived from the personal name 'Malhard', a variant of 'Meinhard' and comes from the Old High German 'mein' meaning ‘strong’ and 'hard' meaning ‘brave’ or 'strong’. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for this surname include: Malert, Mehlert, Mehlhart, Meilert, Meilharter, Meylert, Meylhart, Meylhard, Beanhardt, Benhard, Benhardt, Mengelt and Monhart.

Malert is the most common spelling of this surname and is found throughout Germany. The Mehlert and Meilert spellings are less prominent and are found primarily in the Northwestern region of Germany. Mehlhart is the form of spelling most commonly found in Austria while Meilharter is less common, mainly in Southern Germany.

The Beanhardt, Benhard, Benhardt, Mengelt and Monhart variations of this surname are much less common. They originated in Southern Germany and are also found in Switzerland. The Monhart spelling is relatively rare and is predominantly found in Bavaria.

In conclusion, the surname Melert has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, although some are more common than others. It is important to remember that all variants and spellings have roots in the Old High German language and in the personal name of 'Malhard'.

Famous people with the name Melert

• Michael Melert: actor and musician
• Julius Melert: German mathematician
• Erich Melert: German electrical engineer and academic
• Elizabeth Melert: American journalist
• Al Melert: American former Major League Baseball player
• Sigurd Melert: Norwegian military chaplain and missionary
• IRM Melert: Ukrainian professional footballer
• Gerd Melert: German television actor
• August Melert: Austrian painter
• Paul Melert: American World War II bombardier and Olympic swimmer

Other surnames

Meler