Messing
A surname of German origin, derived from the word "messing," meaning brass, likely referring to a brass worker.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,948 Americans carry the last name Messing. That puts it at #12,289 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.86 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 116,267 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Messing surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
2.9K
1 in 116,267
Census rank
#12,289
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,530 bearers of the surname Messing in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.86 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12289th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Messing, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Messing
The surname Messing originates from Germany, where it first appeared in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Germanic word "meisner," meaning a person from the city of Meissen, located in the present-day German state of Saxony. Alternatively, some sources suggest that the name may have originated from the occupation of a maker or seller of measures, which was known as a "messer" in Middle German.
The earliest recorded mention of the Messing surname can be found in the town records of Meissen, dating back to the year 1348. These records document a certain "Johannes Messing," who was a prominent citizen and landowner in the area. The name also appears in various other historical documents from the region, including tax records and church registers from the 15th and 16th centuries.
In the 16th century, the Messing surname began to spread beyond the borders of Saxony, with individuals bearing the name appearing in other parts of Germany, as well as in neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. One notable figure from this period was Johann Messing (1516-1590), a German Protestant theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the spread of Lutheranism in the region.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Messing surname gained further prominence, with several individuals achieving notable success in various fields. One such individual was Adam Messing (1647-1720), a German architect and engineer who was responsible for the design of several important buildings in the city of Dresden.
Another notable figure was Johann Georg Messing (1733-1807), a German composer and organist who was renowned for his contributions to the development of sacred music in the late Baroque and early Classical periods.
In the 19th century, the Messing surname continued to be well-represented in various areas of German society. One prominent individual from this period was Friedrich Messing (1835-1918), a German industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Messing Werke, a successful manufacturing company that produced a wide range of metal products.
As migration patterns increased in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Messing surname began to spread further afield, with individuals bearing the name settling in various parts of Europe, as well as in North America and other regions of the world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Messing
Among Census respondents with the surname Messing, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Messing bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Messing surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.7%
- Hispanic or Latino3.6%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Black or African American1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Messing surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,289 | #12,289 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,530 | 2,530 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.86 | 0.86 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Messing bearers went from 2,530 to 2,530 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #12,289 to #12,289.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Messing
FAQ
Messing surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Messing?
The surname Messing holds position #12,289 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,948 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.86 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Messing surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Messing, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.