Surname Meltzner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Meltzner: What does the surname Meltzner mean?
Meltzner is a German surname derived from the Latin word “melz” which means “mill”. As such, it is believed to have originally referred to someone who worked in a mill, or a miller. In some instances, the name may also have been adopted as a given name by Latvians and Estonians who migrated to German speaking areas during the 16th century.
Throughout the centuries, the surname remained fairly common in German speaking regions, especially Tyrol and Austria. The name is regularly found in records from the region dating back to the 18th century.
Today, the surname Meltzner is still fairly common in Central Europe, as well as many other countries where German-speaking immigrants have settled. It is also sometimes seen in North America, where people of German origin often anglicized their surnames when they arrived.
Within Germany and Austria, the name Meltzner is most commonly found in the area around Vienna. However, it is likely that many of the people that bear the name do not descend directly from the original millers, but rather adopted the name when they moved to Vienna. For many people, it may still be seen as a symbol of a prosperous trade in Vienna’s past.
Order DNA origin analysisMeltzner: Where does the name Meltzner come from?
The last name Meltzner is not common today, but it is still present in some modern-day countries. As many surnames, it is likely to be of German origin.
In the United States, the last name Meltzner is not common, however records show that there have been residents with this surname. The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 1880 that only eight people had the last name Meltzner in the United States. The population with the same last name has undoubtedly grown since then, but it is not widespread.
In Germany, the situation is slightly different. Quite a few people have this last name, including some prominent figures, like Michal Meltzner, a Polish-German lawyer from Kiel. Documentation from the Geninist Association shows that most concentration of people bearing this surname is in Brandenburg, a city and state in Germany, suggesting a higher number of people with this last name in that area.
The name is also present in different Eastern European countries like Poland, Czechia, and Romania. In those countries, although not common, the last name Meltzner is still present in some families.
Overall, the last name Meltzner is not a common designation today across the world. But it can still be found in small pockets where it once flourished as a particular community’s surname.
Variations of the surname Meltzner
The Meltzner surname is frequently spelled in many different variations throughout different periods of history such as “Meltzner,” “Meltsner,” “Meltzer,” and “Meltzers.”
The German surname Meltzner comes from the Middle High German word meaning “middle” or “middle person,” and is likely derived from the occupation of a merchant or a middleman. The surname may also come from a place name, since there are several tiny villages in Germany and Austria with names that are similar to the surname, such as Meltz and Meltzau.
In the United States, the alternative spelling of “Meltzer” is more common, and American usage of “Meltzner” typically only applies to those of the Jewish faith. During the 19th century, many German families of Jewish heritage immigrated to the United States, and “Meltzer” was one of the common surnames of the immigrants.
Variants of the Meltzner surname with similar origins include “Meltman”, “Melton”, “Meltzinger”, “Melzner”, and “Melzinger”. These names are likely derivatives of the same root, and are likely derived from the same places and occupations.
Lastly, many families have adopted the “Meltzner” surname as a way of preserving their family's heritage, and some variants include “Meltz”, “Meltzman”, “Meltzmanner”, “Melzer”, and “Meltzinger”. Regardless of the spelling, all these variations of the Meltzner surname can be traced back to their common origin.
Famous people with the name Meltzner
- Marshall Meltzner: business magnate, philanthropist and chairman of Meltzner Financial Services.
- Arnie Meltzner: renowned scientist in the field of applied mathematics and software engineering.
- Shelby Meltzner: award-winning professional children's theatre director, producer and playwright.
- Andrés Meltzner: Latin Grammy-winning music producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Amy Meltzner: award-winning investigative journalist and foreign correspondent.
- Don Meltzner: former National Football League and Major League Baseball player.
- Teddy Meltzner: Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist.
- Patricia Meltzner: bestselling author and television presenter.
- Alex Meltzner: award-winning filmmaker and documentary director.
- Monica Meltzner: standout professional basketball player and national champion.