Metsch Surname History

Origins Available:
Germany

During the Middle Ages, the surname of Metsch was used in 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 Metsch 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 Metsch was an occupational name for a knife maker having derived from the Old German word messer, meaning knife.

Early Origins of the Metsch family

The surname Metsch was first found in Austria, where the name could be considered to have made a great contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of modern Europe. Literally, the name could either mean "one who made knives and daggers," for "Metz" is the mediaeval form of "Messer," or it could mean "one who operates a mill," for "metze" was the medaieval weight scale for foodstuff such as corn and flour. Chronicles first mention one Peter mit der metzen of Glatz in 1356, and a "Mecze" who was the wife of Ramfold von Gersdorf in 1390. Metz is also the Germanized form of the Latin "Mediomatrica," a city on the Moselle River in what was once Westphalia, but is now France, which Caesar described as one of the oldest and most important towns of Gaul. The name "Metzer" then means "from the city of Metz." Strasbourg chronicles mention Conrad Metzer von Hagenau in 1295. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the tribal and national conflicts, in which each group sought power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Metsch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Metsch research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1787 and 1796 are included under the topic Early Metsch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Metsch Spelling Variations

One 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 Metsch include Metz, Metzmacher, Metzner, Metze, Mets, Metsch and many more.

Early Notables of the Metsch family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Metsch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Metsch migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Metsch or a variant listed above:

Metsch Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Maria Tys Metsch, who arrived in New York in 1709 1
Johann Metsch, who landed in America in 1783 1

Metsch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joh Ludw Metsch, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1800 1

Metsch migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Metsch Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Johann Metsch, who settled in Canada in 1783

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)