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

Messenger, 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 Messenger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Messenger in America

Messenger is the 5752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Messenger surname appeared 6,022 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Messenger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Messenger 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 Messenger

The surname Messenger is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "messager", meaning "messenger" or "courier". It originated in England during the medieval period, when surnames became hereditary and were often based on a person's occupation or place of origin.

The earliest recorded instances of the Messenger surname can be traced back to the late 12th century in various records and documents. One notable example is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mentions a person named Richard le Messager.

During the Middle Ages, messengers played a crucial role in the communication and transportation of important documents, letters, and parcels between noble households, monasteries, and government officials. The surname Messenger likely referred to individuals who worked as professional couriers or messengers, carrying messages and goods over long distances.

The Messenger surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a person named John le Messagier. This alternative spelling variation, "Messagier", highlights the evolution of the name over time.

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the Messenger surname. One example is Robert Messenger (c. 1460–1536), an English politician who served as the Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Another prominent figure was John Messenger (1565–1624), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1616 until his death.

In the 17th century, a notable individual named Andrew Messenger (c. 1620–1694) gained recognition as a Presbyterian minister and one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

During the 18th century, John Messenger (1745–1825) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several significant battles, including the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759.

In the 19th century, William Messenger (1828–1904) was a renowned American architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford and the Hampden County Courthouse in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Messenger surname has a rich history rooted in the occupation of messengers and couriers during medieval times. Its origins can be traced back to England, where it appeared in various historical records and documents, reflecting the importance of communication and transportation in those eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Messenger

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!