Surname Melcher - Meaning and Origin
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A Genetic Exploration through iGENEA DNA Test: Uncovering the Origin & Evolution of Surname Melcher
Having conducted an in-depth iGENEA DNA test, I journeyed into my ancestral lineage and discovered something striking about the surname Melcher. The results unearthed the Germanic origin of the name and surprising migratory and genetic patterns.
P. Melcher
read moreMelcher: What does the surname Melcher mean?
The last name Melcher is believed to be of German origin. It is derived from the Old German words “melcher” or “melchior”, meaning “king” or “ruler”. It is most likely an occupational surname given to a monarch or ruler, specifically a duke or a count of some distinction. Alternatively, the name may have been given to a descendant of someone who held a title in a royal court.
The Melcher surname is most common in Germany, but it's found in many other countries, too. In the United States and Canada, it can be a variation of words such as Miller or Mueller, with a "M" instead of an "M". It is also present in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Estonia, and Mexico.
The surname Melcher is associated with a number of notable figures throughout history, including Wilhelm Melcher, a German-Bohemian mathematician of the 17th century, and Georige Melcher, a 19th-century German politician. In more recent times, the name is associated with celebrities such as English-American singer-songwriter Stephen Stills and American singer-songwriter Scott Melcher.
Overall, the Melcher surname carries centuries of history and is connected to many renowned and accomplished people throughout the world. It is a name that stands for nobility and leadership.
Order DNA origin analysisMelcher: Where does the name Melcher come from?
The last name Melcher is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also present in the United States, mainly in California, Illinois, New York, and Florida. In the United States, it is primarily of German origin. The root of the surname is believed to have come from the Middle High German word “melchere” or the Middle Low German word “melere” which means miller.
In Germany, the name is most frequently found in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg. In Austria, it is similarly most common in the southern states of Styria, Carinthia, and Salzburg. In Switzerland, the majority of people with the surname Melcher are located in the German-speaking cantons of Zurich and Bern. Generally, people with the name are found more in the southern half of Europe, especially where Germanic and Slavic influences overlap.
In the United States, people with the surname are most often found concentrated in rural areas. Some of the earliest bearers of the Melcher surname immigrated to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries from Central and Eastern Europe; however, there are now a number of families with the surname from German and Irish descent. Currently, there are over 27,000 individuals across the United States with the Melcher last name.
Variations of the surname Melcher
The surname Melcher has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include:
1. Mealser
2. Meeler
3. Millar
4. Melger
5. Melcar
6. Melker
7. Melhor
8. MeleAero
9. Mellor
10. Melen
11. Malcher
12. Melzer
13. Mailer
14. Millerr
15. Mailar
The origin of the Melcher surname has roots in several German states, with the earliest records beginning in the 13th century. The root of the surname is “Meller,” which is a combination of two old German words: “melro” meaning “bald” or “shabby” and “herro” meaning “army.” As the family name moved around the German states, different spellings and regional variants became popular.
In terms of geographical influence, the spellings of the surname depend on where the family originates from; for example, the Melzer variant is particularly prevalent in Germany, whereas the Mailar variant is more popular in Switzerland. Ultimately, though, this is just a rough guide as to the variant of the surname. The Melcher surname is also found in other countries such as Austria, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
The variations of the surname Melcher have been filed and indexed throughout Europe and over time, the spelling may have changed depending on where the Melcher family resided. Different variations of the surname may be found when researching on genealogical and archival records.
Famous people with the name Melcher
- Marcus Melcher: German footballer
- P.T. Melcher: American poet and editor
- Kristoff Melcher: German television actor
- Herbert S. Melcher: American businessperson and philanthropist
- George R. Melcher: American politician
- Curt Melcher: German-born American television executive
- Bruce Melcher: American businessman
- Gert Melcher: German television presenter
- Elva Melcher: American pianist and composer 10.Andreas Melcher: German biathlete 11.Greg Melcher: American television producer 12.Rudolf Melcher: German politician 13.Brigitte Melcher: Swiss film director 14.Kurt Melcher: German politician 15.Kiki Melcher: German-American student activist 16.Rudolf Melcher: German Olympic sprinter 17.Werner Melcher: German actor and director 18.Tom Melcher: American attorney and Colorado state senator 19.Ginger Melcher: American recordist and engineer 20.Frank Melcher: German basketball player