| ![Show Contents]() Messerschmitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The origins the old family name Messerschmitt can be found within medieval Austria. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in Germany, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Messerschmitt family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Messerschmitt was an occupational name for a knife maker. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old German word messer, meaning knife, and is often attached to the word schmidt, meaning smith or craftsman. Early Origins of the Messerschmitt familyThe surname Messerschmitt was first found in Austria, where this family became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Chronicles first mention Niklaus Messer of Freiburg in 1369, Peter Messersmidel of Iglau in 1385, and Johann Melczer der Messer of Breslau in 1370. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Early History of the Messerschmitt familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Messerschmitt research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1685, 1735 and 1835 are included under the topic Early Messerschmitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Messerschmitt Spelling VariationsOne can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Messerschmitt include Messer, Messen, Messe, Messa, Meser, Messerer, Messerschmidt, Messerschmitt, Messerschmied, Messerle, Messerli, Messerlee, Messerly and many more. Early Notables of the Messerschmitt familyDuring this period prominent bearers of the name Messerschmitt were Daniel Gottlieb Messerschmidt (1685-1735), a German physician, naturalist and geographer; Lord Messerschmidt, the Lord of Wittbeck and...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Messerschmitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Messerschmitt migration to the United States | + |
After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Messerschmitt were
Messerschmitt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Adam Messerschmitt, who landed in Philadelphia 1848
Messerschmitt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Henry Messerschmitt, aged 51, who landed in America, in 1916
- Kaspar Messerschmitt, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1922
- Adam Messerschmitt, aged 30, who settled in America from Ludwigshafen, Germany, in 1923
| Contemporary Notables of the name Messerschmitt (post 1700) | + |
- David Messerschmitt (b. 1945), American engineer and professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley
- Wilhelm Emil "Willy" Messerschmitt (1898-1978), German aircraft designer whose firm built the highly successful Bf 109; his firm also built the ME 262 which was the first mass-produced jet-propelled aircraft ever made
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Messerschmitt migration to the United States 
