Surname Melter - Meaning and Origin

Melter: What does the surname Melter mean?

The last name Melter is of German origin and is associated with a specific profession. The surname is derived from the German verb “meltzen” which means “to smelt”, or to melt metals into a usable form. This art was intertwined with the craft of blacksmithing, so it is likely that the Melter family were originally blacksmiths. A key part of this profession was becoming adept at smelting metal to make Cookware and other useful items.

The surname also has a second derivative, derived from the Middle Dutch verb “melteren”, which means “to become soft”, usually because of heat. This is perhaps why the surname is often linked to metalworking.

The surname has largely been used for people who worked in metal-based professions, whether through smelting or other means like blade smithing. Over the centuries, it has been used by masters of the craft, traveling artisan, regional tradesman, and even individual smiths.

It’s an old surname, and as such, it has an important place in the shared history of Germans and many of their modern-day descendants. It also serves as a reminder of the vital role metalworking has in the history of so many societies.

Melter: Where does the name Melter come from?

The last name Melter is not particularly common in any one place today. It belongs to a family of surnames found mainly in German-speaking countries, particularly in western Germany. It is particularly prominent in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, and Hesse regions of Germany. Melter is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German term ‘melter’, meaning to melt, as in metalsmithing. As a result, the Melter family is believed to have originated from one of the numerous metalworking guilds in the area.

The name can also be found in Austria, where it is generally more widespread than other regions of Germany, and even in modern-day Luxembourg. It is also occasionally seen in Canada and the United States, where those of German descent have emigrated over the last few centuries. Here, it is more likely to be spelled with an extra ‘e’ as in ‘Melterer’ or ‘Meltier’.

In conclusion, the Melter surname is not particularly common today but is found in various regions in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Canada, and the United States. It is an occupational surname, believed to reflect an ancestor who was a skilled metalsmith.

Variations of the surname Melter

The surname Melter has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, mostly stemming from the Germanic language family.

The most commonly seen variant of Melter is Mehlert, which is a dignified spelling of the name. Other variants include Meller, Millert, Milert, Meltert, Meltter, Miltor, Meldt, Meltar, Meldre, and Meldor.

In France, the spelling of Melter was adapted as Malter, Melterre, Melters, or Meltiere, while in the Netherlands, it became Meltaar or Meltaer. In England, Scotland, and Ireland, it was often written as Miler, Milter, or Malter. In Poland, it was usually found as Meller, and in Denmark, it was commonly written as Mellert. In Hungary, its spelling was Melter or Meltert.

These variants of Melter are all fundamentally the same, although the spelling may have adjusted slightly depending on the country or language which the family members found themselves living. The ultimate origin of the surname Melter is likely to be from the German word mehlen, which means “to mill”. This is likely to have referred to someone who worked at a mill.

Regardless of the slight variations, all of these surnames derive from the same source and through the different languages, evolved to resemble its current spelling.

Famous people with the name Melter

• Rebecca Melter: A German actress born in 1977, best known for her role as Paula in the television series Schloss Einstein.
• Johannes Melter: A German historian born in 1949 at the University of Tübingen, with scholarship focusing on the Medieval and Reformation era of the German History.
• Rebecca Melter: A Chicago born contemporary abstract artist, best known for her colorful palette and art inspired by nature.
• Christian Melter: A German entrepreneur, entrepreneur mentor, and Ramón y Cajal professor.
• Hilde Melter: A German curator, art historian, and professor of modern and contemporary art at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
• Alex Melter: An American rapper and songwriter from New York City.
• Maggie Melter: An American actress, best known for her roles in the television shows The Doctors (1956-57) and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1962-66).
• Jochen Melter: A German writer and journalist, best known for his weekly radio show, Aktueller Bericht, in which he provides a humorous look at political events.
• Michael Melter: A German-American playwright and screenwriter, best known for his film work on the Kurt Russell classics Escape from LA (1996) and Escape from New York (1981).
• Andrew Melter: An American filmmaker and photographer, best known for his documentary series Master Posters (2014) and for his involvement in the early cinema of the United States.

Other surnames

Meltendorf