Surname Meroldt - Meaning and Origin

Meroldt: What does the surname Meroldt mean?

The last name Meroldt is likely derived from the Germanic terms "Mar" and "Halt", meaning both "fame" and "hold" respectively. Consequently, the name may symbolize an idea of one who holds and upholds the wealth and renown of a family or a community.

The Meroldt last name is associated with an interesting history. In Germany, it is believed to have originated as a used by some members of Prussian nobility. Perhaps intended as a reference to the prominent status of the family, Meroldt may have been employed as a way to distinguish the family from other families with similar names.

The Meroldt name is also used by families in the Scandinavian countries. There, it may have been used to indicate a family's standing within the local community. In Norway, the name has been recorded since 1579 and in Sweden, since 1605.

Regardless of their origin, families with the last name Meroldt enjoy a respected social status in their communities. Nowadays, the Meroldt name has been spread out among many cultures, keeping the original meaning intact. As such, it continues to remain a proud and honorable name for many families.

Meroldt: Where does the name Meroldt come from?

The last name Meroldt is most often found in Central and Northern Europe. It appears to be particularly common in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. In Germany, the name is sometimes spelled Merholdt or Mehrholdt. Although the name is not one of the most common last names in each of the countries where it is found, it should be noted that due to its relative rarity, Meroldt is often found in small villages or even isolated communities that have not seen much in the way of migration throughout the centuries.

The Meroldt name is also found in several countries in the Old World where it is possible that the name has originated. This includes Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It is believed, however, that the root of the name is in the German region known as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The last name Meroldt does not appear to be in wide usage in the New World, though it is still used by some of the descendants of German immigrants who settled in North America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is therefore possible for people with the Meroldt surname to track its origins back to their European ancestors.

Variations of the surname Meroldt

Meroldt is a distinctive and rare surname. It is related to the Old German word merwalt, which means ‘power’. Over the centuries, many different variants of Meroldt have evolved, including: Merwald, Maralld, Merwalt, Merolt, Marolt, Merauld, Merold, Merol, Merl, Marol, Maruld, and Maruldt.

Other variants of the original name—which may have emerged due to incorrect transcription of official documents, or due to deliberate attempts to change or differentiate the name—include Merwelt, Marwold, Merwolt, Marold, and Merlutt. In some cases, the name was even shortened to Mer or Merl.

The Middle High German word merwald, of which Meroldt is the modernized version, has also been linked to surnames such as Merwalde, Merwalden, Merwölte, Merwalter, Merwetter, Marwölde, Merwael, Merweak, Marwaaler, Merwaegen, and Menwalt. This makes the surname Meroldt part of a larger family of related names.

The name Meroldt has been in use in Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Scandinavia since at least the High Middle Ages, but its exact origin is somewhat uncertain. In some cases, the surname is believed to derive from the Old German name Marhold, which may have been modified to Merhold or Meroldt at some point. In other cases, the name is linked to the old German word marwalt, or merwalt (‘guardian’).

Famous people with the name Meroldt

• David Meroldt: Swiss chess grandmaster.
• Paul Meroldt: German field hockey player.
• Gert Meroldt: German fighter pilot in the First World War.
• Karl Meroldt: German landscape painter.
• Johann Meroldt: German sculptor and medallist.
• Julian Meroldt: German cyclist.
• Erich Meroldt: German politician and publicist.
• Hilmar Meroldt: German sculptor.
• Bruno Meroldt: German astronomer.
• Bernhard Meroldt: German botanist.
• Alice Meroldt: German singer and actress.
• Richard Meroldt: German philologist and politician.
• Georg Meroldt: German painter and engraver.
• Jan Meroldt: Dutch poet.
• Stefan Meroldt: German actor.
• Elisabeth Meroldt: German actress.
• Elske Meroldt: Dutch philosophy professor.
• Johann Meroldt: Austrian Catholic priest and church historian.
• Ruth Meroldt: German librarian and museum curator.
• Andreas Meroldt: German auto racing driver.

Other surnames

MeroldMerolt