Surname Merkator - Meaning and Origin
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Merkator: What does the surname Merkator mean?
The last name Merkator is derived from the German word "Marktator" which refers to an "auctioneer" or "market master". It is a very old occupational name, appearing in records dating back to 1513 in Germany.
The word Merkator is believed to be derived from the Latin word "marcator" meaning "one who marks" or a "marker". This indicates that early bearers of the surname Merkator may have played an important role in the setting and maintaining of market regulations. For instance, they may have marked prices on goods for customers or helped to set up and maintain market regulations.
In more modern times and further afield, Merkators have been involved in many different occupations. Some have attested to being farmers, dealers of goods, barbers, furriers, tailors, shop keepers or even teachers.
In the modern age, the surname Merkator is not overly common. Those that do bear the last name are generally spread throughout parts of Germany, the United States and other nearby countries.
Despite their sparse distribution, those with the surname Merkator are proud of the historical roots of their name. It traces back to a rich and varied history, with many generations of auctioneers, lords of the market and bartering deals that have been passed down to the present day.
Order DNA origin analysisMerkator: Where does the name Merkator come from?
The last name Merkator is of German origin and is still quite common in today's Germany. The meaning of this name is “merchant” and was often applied to business families. Other countries in which the last name Merkator can be found include Austria and Switzerland as well as other German speaking countries, such as parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
In the United States, Merkator is not a particularly common name. According to the Social Security Administration's records, the surname Merkator was last found in the US around the year 1980 with only 14 individuals identified by the name. Since then, the last name Merkator has seen a slight rise in population, but remains quite uncommon throughout the US.
In Germany today, the Merkator family is still widespread and quite prominent, some of them bearing considerable wealth. This wealth is often passed down through generations and often the terms “Merkator” and “businessman” have become almost interchangeable.
The Merkator family is known for being hardworking, intelligent, and passionate, traits that are invaluable for successful business. To be a successful “Merkator”, it's not only essential to have good business acumen, but also to understand the culture and the inner working of the specific country they are doing business in. As such, the Merkator family continues to represent an invaluable part of the German business scene.
Variations of the surname Merkator
Merkator is a surname of German origin. It derived from the German word “merkator,” which means merchant and is historically associated with merchants who traveled around Europe in the Middle Ages.
Variations of the name include Merkator, Markator, Markatur, Merkatur, Merkater, Markater, Marker, Marketer, Merker, Merkter, Marcher, Marchert, Marcherte, Marchter, Mercator, Mercher, Merchert, and Marchor.
Spellings of the name also include Merkator, Mercator, Markator, Mercato, Marcato, Marsato, Merkatora, Merkatori, Merkatoro, and Merkators.
Common variants of the surname are Merker, Mercator, Markator, Mercatur, and Marketer.
There are some surnames that share the same origin as Merkator, including Mercel, Merchi, Merchet, Mercke, Merckel, Merkert, Merkle, Merkler, Merklin, Merkle, Mertsch, Merz, Merzak and Merzek.
Other variants derived from the same root include Merck, Merkk, Merkle, Marker, Markert, Marke, Marker, Markert, Marcke, and Marx.
The surname is also found in countries other than Germany, usually with slight spellings variations, such as Merces, Mercia, Merciero, Merkys, Mercurio, Marquesi, Marcacini, Mercaz, and Mercés.
Famous people with the name Merkator
- Karel Merkator: Karel Merkator was a Belgian cyclist who was active between 1905 and 1916. He was a professional road rider and cyclo-cross rider, racing in Europe and the United States. He won numerous races and earned several national titles.
- Giovanni Francesco Merkator: Giovanni Francesco Merkator was an Italian humanist, polymath, and merchant in the 16th century. He was known for his successful attempts to break the monopoly of Venice in the luxury goods market and for his sophisticated mathematics which enabled him to calculate the deflection of the magnetic needle due to the curvature of the earth.
- Jozef Merkator: Jozef Merkator was a Slovakian sprint canoeist who competed in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. He was a multiple-time medalist at the European Championships and World Cup events.
- Abraham Jacobus Merkator: Abraham Jacobus Merkator was a Dutch chess master who finished second in four national chess championships. He competed in tournaments alongside multiple world champions and also composed several chess problems.
- Erhard Merkator: Erhard Merkator was a German footballer and manager who played for SV Werder Bremen and Fortuna Düsseldorf. He also managed several teams, including Werder Bremen. He earned the nickname 'the Fujifilm-Mann' during his time at Werder Bremen.