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

Messinger, 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 Messinger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Messinger in America

Messinger is the 7505th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Messinger surname appeared 4,436 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 Messinger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Messinger 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 Messinger

The surname Messinger is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Messinger," which means "one who works with brass or bell metal." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in metalworking professions, such as brass smiths or bell makers.

The name Messinger is believed to have originated in southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia, where metalworking was a thriving industry during the medieval period. Some early records indicate that the name appeared in various forms, including Messinger, Messinger, and Messenger.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Messinger can be found in the Würzburg Archives, dated around 1300, which mentions a certain "Conradus Messinger" as a resident of the city. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence during the late 13th or early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Messinger name gained prominence with the birth of Hans Messinger (c. 1440-1515), a renowned German engraver and printmaker. His detailed woodcuts and engravings depicting religious and mythological scenes were highly acclaimed during the Renaissance period.

Another notable figure was Johann Messinger (1572-1638), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of optics and lens design. His work on refraction and telescopic lenses paved the way for advancements in astronomical observation.

The Messinger surname also appears in historical records from neighboring regions, such as Austria and Switzerland. In the 16th century, a branch of the Messinger family settled in the Swiss city of Zurich, where they established themselves as respected metalworkers and craftsmen.

During the 18th century, a prominent Messinger family emerged in the German town of Ansbach, Bavaria. This lineage produced several notable figures, including Friedrich Messinger (1705-1782), a renowned theologian and author of several religious texts.

As time passed, the Messinger name spread across various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong metalworking traditions. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Johann Messinger (1828-1901), a German-American inventor and engineer, and Theodor Messinger (1892-1974), an Austrian-American film director and producer who worked in Hollywood during the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Messinger

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

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

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

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