Surname Meltzer - Meaning and Origin

Meltzer: What does the surname Meltzer mean?

The surname Meltzer is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and is an occupational name for a melter of metal, derived from the Yiddish term "melts" meaning melt and the German "er" indicating a person who does. So, the literal translation of Meltzer is 'one who melts'. It would have likely been originally given to individuals who worked in foundries or similar occupations where they melted metal. Like many Ashkenazi Jewish surnames, Meltzer is fairly common among Jews of Eastern European descent. However, Jewish surnames can often trace their roots back to a variety of sources, including occupations, given names, and even geographical locations. Therefore, not every individual with the surname Meltzer may have an ancestor who was a metal melter; there may be other origins of the surname as well.

Meltzer: Where does the name Meltzer come from?

The surname Meltzer is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and it emerged from the territories which now form modern-day Germany. Typically, Jewish surnames are derived from Hebrew words or places which bear a significant or religious nature. In the case of Meltzer, it's believed to be an occupational surname originating from the word "meltz", means messenger or interpreter in Yiddish, which was used in Central and Eastern Europe by Jews.

The large Jewish communities from Eastern Europe and Germany migrated globally throughout the 19th and 20th centuries due to the political and social upheaval they faced. Today, the name Meltzer is quite common in the United States, home to the largest population of Jewish people outside of Israel. Additionally, it may also be relatively common in other areas of Jewish diaspora like Israel, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. However, the exact prevalence of this surname in these countries may vary.

Variations of the surname Meltzer

The surname Meltzer is of German and Jewish origin, it means "engraver of metal" or "engraver of coins". It's a variant of the name Melzer and very associated with Metzler. Some versions of the name reflect regional pronunciation patterns and include Metzger, Meltser, Meltz, and Meltzerer.

It's primarily an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, individuals with this surname migrated into Eastern European countries, therefore, various forms of the surname in multiple languages have developed, including Russian (Мельцер), Polish (Melcer), Ukrainian (Мельцер), Yiddish (מעלצער), and Hebrew (מלצר).

It's also worth mentioning that Meltzer is not to be confused with the surname Melzer, which originates from "Melchior," a completely different surname of German origin.

In general, variations for the surname Meltzer are significantly influenced by the translation of the surname into different languages and dialects around various parts of Europe.

Famous people with the name Meltzer

• Dean Meltzer: Dean Meltzer is an American professional wrestler, best known as one half of The Dream Team with Greg Valentine.
• Marshall Meltzer: Marshall Meltzer is an American novelist, television writer, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on the series St. Elsewhere, Law & Order, and The Equalizer.
• Brad Meltzer: Brad Meltzer is an American political thriller novelist and non-fiction writer. He is the author of best-selling novels, The Tenth Justice, The First Counsel, and The Zero Game.
• Howard Meltzer: Howard Meltzer is an American attorney and judge who served as a federal judge in the Ninth and Eighth Circuits of Appeal.
• Jeffrey Meltzer: Jeffrey Meltzer is a Democratic Party politician from the State of New York. He was elected to New York State Assembly in 1987.
• Matthew Meltzer: Matthew Meltzer is an American television director, best known for his work directing Law & Order.
• Richard Meltzer: Richard Meltzer is an American writer and musician, best known for his book entitled The Aesthetics of Rock.
• Earl Meltzer: Earl Meltzer is an American academic, best known for his work as a professor at Cornell University in the field of Education.
• Steven Meltzer: Steven Meltzer is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for his self-made success as the founder of the company KPMG.
• J. Lawrence Meltzer: J. Lawrence Meltzer is an American professor of economics at Stanford University. He is most noted for his work in economic policy and international trade.

Other surnames

Meltzner