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

Meltzer, 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 Meltzer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meltzer in America

Meltzer is the 10021st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meltzer surname appeared 3,216 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Meltzer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meltzer 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 Meltzer

The surname Meltzer originated in Germany, specifically in the regions of Prussia and Silesia. It can be traced back to the 14th century and is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "melzen," which means "to milk." This suggests that the name was likely initially an occupational surname given to those who worked as milkers or dairy farmers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meltzer appears in a document from 1398 in the town of Breslau, now known as Wrocław in Poland. The document mentions a "Hans Meltzer," who was a landowner and farmer in the area.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Prussian town of Königsberg, now called Kaliningrad, Russia. In 1472, a "Peter Meltzer" was listed as a member of the local guild of tanners.

In the 16th century, the Meltzer name began to appear in various parts of Germany, including the regions of Brandenburg and Saxony. This suggests that families with this surname may have migrated from their original areas in Silesia and Prussia to other parts of the country.

One notable individual with the Meltzer surname was Johann Meltzer (1681-1745), a German composer and organist who worked in the court of the Prussian King Frederick William I. His compositions, particularly his organ works, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Meltzer (1854-1924), a German historian and professor who specialized in the study of ancient Greece and Rome. He taught at several universities, including the University of Berlin, and authored numerous books on classical history and culture.

In the 19th century, the Meltzer name also appeared in other parts of Europe, including Austria and Switzerland. One notable Swiss Meltzer was the painter and engraver Johann Melchior Meltzer (1766-1847), who was known for his landscapes and vedute (cityscape paintings).

As for place names or older spellings, the town of Meltzer (now Mielcarz) in Lower Silesia, Poland, may have been named after the Meltzer family or vice versa. Additionally, the name has been recorded with variations such as Meltzer, Melzer, and Melczer in various historical documents.

Overall, the surname Meltzer has a rich history dating back to medieval Germany, with its origins likely stemming from an occupation in the dairy farming or milking industry. Over the centuries, individuals with this name have made their mark in various fields, including music, academia, and art.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meltzer

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

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 Meltzer 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 Meltzer 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 Meltzer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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