2000
#1,657
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 19,819
First available Census row
Per 100,000 7.35
Uncommon Last name
Messer
An occupational surname referring to a knife maker, derived from the German word for knife, "messer."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 21,827 Americans carry the last name Messer. That puts it at #1,851 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.37 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 15,703 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Messer surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Messer with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
22K
1 in 15,703
Census rank
#1,851
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
19K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 19,034 bearers of the surname Messer in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.37 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1851st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Messer, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.8%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Messer
The surname Messer has its roots in the German language, originating from the Middle High German word "mez(z)er," which translates to "knife maker" or "butcher." This occupational surname traces its origins to the medieval period, particularly in the regions of modern-day Germany and parts of Central Europe.
During the Middle Ages, occupational surnames were commonly adopted to distinguish individuals by their trade or profession. The name Messer likely emerged among families whose ancestors were skilled craftsmen, producing and selling knives or engaged in butchery.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Messer can be found in the Hausbuch der Mendelschen zwölfbrüderstiftung, a manuscript dating back to the 14th century. This document, which chronicled the lives of affluent families in Nuremberg, Germany, mentions individuals bearing the surname Messer.
In the 15th century, a prominent individual named Arnold Messer (1436-1514) was a successful merchant and banker in the city of Strasbourg, France. His wealth and influence contributed to the recognition of the Messer name in the region.
Another notable figure with this surname was Johann Messer (1520-1583), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and served as a preacher and pastor in various cities throughout Germany.
The Messer surname also found its way into the annals of English history. Sir John Messer (1585-1651) was an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.
In the realm of literature, the German writer and poet Hans Messer (1790-1864) gained recognition for his contributions to the Romantic movement. His works, including poems and novels, explored themes of nature and the human experience.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Messer surname in North America dates back to the 17th century, when Hans Messer (1630-1698) immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania, seeking religious freedom and new opportunities.
Throughout history, the Messer name has been associated with various professions, from skilled artisans and merchants to academics and political figures. While the surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its origins remain firmly rooted in the occupational traditions of the Middle Ages.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Messer
Among Census respondents with the surname Messer, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.8%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Messer bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Messer surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.1% · 17,338
- Two or more races3.8% · 731
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 485
- Black or African American1.2% · 222
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 170
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 88
Timeline
Historical Census data for Messer
Messer appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#1,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 20,306
+487 bearers (+2.5%)
Per 100,000 6.88
Rank movement Down 112 places
2020
#1,851
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 19,034
-1,272 bearers (-6.3%)
Per 100,000 6.37
Rank movement Down 82 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #1,657 | 19,819 | 7.35 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #1,769 | 20,306 | 6.88 | +487 bearers (+2.5%) | Down 112 places |
| 2020 | #1,851 | 19,034 | 6.37 | -1,272 bearers (-6.3%) | Down 82 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Messer surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,769 | #1,851 | -4.6% |
| Count | 20,306 | 19,034 | -6.3% |
| Per 100K | 6.88 | 6.37 | -7.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Messer bearers went from 20,306 to 19,034 (-6.3% change). The surname moved down 82 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,769 to #1,851.
FAQ
Messer surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Messer?
Name Census estimates that about 21,827 living Americans carry the surname Messer. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 15,703 residents.
How common is Messer?
Messer ranks #1,851 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 6.37 per 100,000 residents, which is about 6 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 19,034 people with the surname Messer. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (21,827), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 6.37 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 6.37 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 6 of them to have the surname Messer.
Has Messer become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Messer went from 20,306 recorded bearers to 19,034. That is a decrease of 1,272 (-6.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #1,769 to #1,851.
What does the Census say about the background of Messer?
Among Census respondents with the surname Messer, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.8%) and Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Messer in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.1% (17,338 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Messer appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.1%), Two or More Races (3.8%), Hispanic (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Messer (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Messer mean?
An occupational surname referring to a knife maker, derived from the German word for knife, "messer." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Messer (6.37 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Messer?
You can see how many Americans have the surname Messer on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.