Surname Mercator - Meaning and Origin

Mercator: What does the surname Mercator mean?

The last name Mercator is of Latin origin, and was first used by someone who worked as a merchant, trader or retailer. It generally has two possible interpretations: “mercator” or “mercari” which mean “trader” or “merchant”. It is a fairly common name in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Belgium where it first appeared more than 500 years ago.

The most famous bearer of this surname was Gerardus Mercator, a 16th century Flemish geographer and cartographer who created the Mercator projection, still used today in mapping the world. He was also a mathematician, instrument maker, seal engraver, globe maker and cosmographer, and was one of the leading figure of the 16th century scientific revolution.

The Mercator surname is still used around the world today, representing not only a famous cartographer, but also the commercial and industrial activities of traders and merchants from centuries ago. It stands as a symbol of the family values and hard work of its bearers, and remains a reminder of the global trade for which they were each known.

Mercator: Where does the name Mercator come from?

The last name Mercator is most commonly found in many Western and Northern European countries, such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, and the UK. It is also present in some Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden and Denmark, and in Spanish-speaking countries, such as Spain and Argentina.

The Mercator name originated in Belgium in the 15th century, and has since spread to other parts of Europe and the world.

The origin of the Mercator name is unknown, but historians believe it may be a derivative of the Latin word “mercator” (a dealer in goods). It could also be derived from the Latin word “mercatorius”, meaning “business”.

People bearing the Mercator name have made their mark in various occupations, including as educators, merchants, and soldiers.

In more recent years, the last name Mercator has been associated with the famous cartographer and mathematician Gerhard Mercator. Gerhard created a map projection system known as the Mercator projection, which is widely used in navigation and mapping today.

In the United States, the last name Mercator is mostly found among the descendants of German and Dutch immigrants. The 2010 US Census counted 24,659 people with the last name Mercator in the US.

Variations of the surname Mercator

The surname Mercator is an ancient family name originating from Latin/Roman Empire which can be found in various countries around the world. Traditionally, Mercator was spelled without the ‘c’. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Mercator are as follows:

-Mersor (1240, England)

-Mercator (1250, England)

-Merkator (1636, Germany)

-Merkuttur (1671, Germany)

-Merckator (1742, Austria)

-Marchater (1773, France)

-Mersser (1782, Denmark)

-Mertsatar (1787, Estonia)

-Merkatori (1811, Estonia)

-Mercater (1862, Norway)

-Markator (1901, Lithuania)

-Mercatori (1913, Italy)

-Mercatore (1955, Italy)

-Merkator (1969, Hungary)

-Marchator (2005, Albania)

In addition to these spellings, the Mercator surname might also be found with various prefixes and suffixes including: De Mercator, da Mercator, van Mercator, von Mercator, van den Mercator, von den Mercator, de Merckator, da Merckator, van Merckator, von Merckator, van den Merckator, von den Merckator, etc.

The Mercator surname likely originated from a Latin word meaning “merchant” or “trader”, as Mercator was likely first a given name for someone involved in the trades. It is possible that Mercator was also a popular occupation-derived surname, as many people likely took on the family name of a trade they were involved in, such as blacksmith, tailor or trader.

Famous people with the name Mercator

• Gerardus Mercator: Famous 16th century cartographer widely regarded as the creator of the Mercator projection map.
• Hugo Mercator: A Dutch refusenik in the Soviet Union who “appealed against the system” and was subsequently sent to prison a number of times.
• Maria Mercator: North American ballet dancer, who worked with the National Ballet of Canada, where she was a soloist for almost 20 years.
• Sarah Mercator: Professional journalist and author of a book about the Soviet Union’s legal system from the perspective of a dissident.
• Eduardo Mercator: Chilean television host and radio announcer famous for his interviews and commentaries about Chilean politics.
• Rachel Mercator: British food writer-activist who has written several books about contrasting diets among countries.
• John Mercator: Late American professional basketball player, who served in the United States Air Force.
• Emile Mercator: Early 20th century French painter and draughtsman, notable for his brightly coloured geometric abstract works.
• Peter Mercator: British cricket player who played for the Surrey county team in the beginning of the 19th century.
• Jan Mercator: 18th century Dutch astronomer who used a telescope to measure the orbits of comets.

Other surnames

Mercatoris