Find out how popular the last name Melchior is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Melchior.

Melchior, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Melchior surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melchior in America

Melchior is the 20172nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melchior surname appeared 1,322 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Melchior.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melchior to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Melchior

The surname Melchior has its origins in the Middle Ages, tracing back to the time of the Crusades in the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in Germany, derived from the Germanic personal name Melchior, which means "king of light" or "bright king." This name was initially popularized by one of the three Magi or Wise Men who visited the infant Jesus, according to the biblical story.

The surname Melchior first appeared in historical records during the 13th century in various regions of what is now modern-day Germany. Some of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in medieval manuscripts and chronicles from areas such as Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Melchior was Johannes Melchior, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1505 to 1580. He was a prominent figure during the Reformation and authored several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 16th century, the Melchior family gained prominence in the city of Nuremberg, where they were involved in various trades and professions. One notable member was Melchior Pfinzing (1481-1535), a German humanist, politician, and historian who served as a councilor in Nuremberg and wrote a significant work titled "Die Anfänge der Reformation in Nürnberg" (The Beginnings of the Reformation in Nuremberg).

Another notable figure with the surname Melchior was Johann Melchior Molter (1696-1765), a German Baroque composer and violinist who was considered one of the finest musicians of his time. He served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and composed numerous instrumental works, including concertos and symphonies.

In the 18th century, the Melchior family had a presence in various parts of Europe, including France and the Netherlands. One prominent individual was Jean-Baptiste Melchior (1734-1809), a French painter and engraver who specialized in portraits and historical scenes.

Throughout its history, the surname Melchior has been associated with various professions, including theology, philosophy, politics, arts, and music. While the name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melchior

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Melchior.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Melchior was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Melchior has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Melchior was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Melchior, please contact us.

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