Surname Messner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Discovering Ancestral Ties: An iGENEA DNA Test's Unexpected Revelations about My Messner Lineage
An iGENEA DNA test provides unexpected revelations of Scandinavian and Eastern European heritage linked to my Messner ancestors, bringing forward new insights into my family history and self-understanding.
R. Messner
read moreMessner: What does the surname Messner mean?
The last name Messner is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German term "messner" which means sexton. A sexton is a church officer or employee in charge of maintaining the church property, especially one responsible for the care of the church building, its furnishings, and the surrounding churchyard. Hence, this surname could have been an occupational one, given to individuals or families who held this position in the church in medieval times. Like many surnames that derived from professions or occupations, it's possible that the ancestors of people with the surname Messner held this job role. Variations of the surname include Messer, Messerschmidt, and Metzner among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMessner: Where does the name Messner come from?
The surname Messner is of Germanic origin. The name is considered both an occupational and locational surname. As an occupational surname, it was used for individuals who served as sextons or church wardens, derived from the Middle High German "messner" which means "dignitary in charge of the town's hall". As a locational surname, Messner could also be derived from places named Mesner, suggesting that the individual originally hailed from such a location.
Today, the last name Messner is commonly found in Germany and Austria, given their German-speaking population. However, due to migration and the spread of people across the globe, the surname can also be found in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and other European countries. Therefore, while it originates from the German-speaking regions, its prevalence is not strictly confined to those areas nowadays. Famous people with the surname Messner include Reinhold Messner, the Italian mountaineer, and adventurer.
Variations of the surname Messner
The surname Messner may be a variant of several German names, spotlighting a myriad of spellings and surnames that may share the same origin. Some of these alternate spellings and variations include Messmer, Messer, Messerschmidt, and Messerli. It can also be stretched to include slightly less obvious variants like Mester, Meznar and Mesner.
Many of these names come from the same root word 'messen', a German word denoting to measure or to judge. The surname could also be an occupational name derived from the term 'Messner,' a Church steward in medieval times, deemed responsible for measuring out the community grain, and taking care of church properties.
Exploring the surnames of shared origin involves traversing through common Germanic surnames like Schmitt, Schmidt, and Schneider, which also root from professions in old German society. In different regions and over time, these names may have evolved to share a common root with Messner.
In summary, the surname Messner has a variety of spellings, variants, and alternate surnames of the same origin, mostly stemming from Germany, and invariably carrying historical and professional significance.
Famous people with the name Messner
- Reinhold Messner: Reinhold Messner is a legendary Italian mountaineer and explorer and the first person to ascend all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks. He is also an accomplished author, environmentalist, and politician.
- Hubertus von Messner: Hubertus von Messner is a German alpine skier and businessman. He is a former Olympic ski champion and a renowned ski mountaineer.
- Günter Messner: Günter Messner is an Austrian mountaineer, ice climber and outdoor enthusiast. He has completed numerous first ascents in the Alps and partnered with Reinhold Messner on a number of expeditions, becoming the first brothers to summit the 8,000-meter peak of Cho Oyu in Tibet.
- Hans Peter Messner: Hans Peter Messner is an Austrian alpine skier and mountaineer, known for being a member of the first all-Austrian team to climb Everest.
- Elfie von Messner: Elfie von Messner is an Austrian alpine skier and Olympic medalist. She won a bronze medal in the downhill event at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
- Romedio von Messner: Romedio von Messner is the bishop of the diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone, in the Italian province of South Tyrol.
- Ines Messner: Ines Messner is a German Fabric Designer who is noted for her work in sustainable fashion and conscious design.
- Kaspar von Messner: Kaspar von Messner is an Austrian politician and became the president of the village of Vals, South Tyrol in 2013.