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![Show Contents]() Messerly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The origins the old family name Messerly 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 Messerly 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 Messerly 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 Messerly familyThe surname Messerly 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 Messerly familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Messerly research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1685, 1735 and 1835 are included under the topic Early Messerly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Messerly Spelling VariationsIn the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Messerly include Messer, Messen, Messe, Messa, Meser, Messerer, Messerschmidt, Messerschmitt, Messerschmied, Messerle, Messerli, Messerlee, Messerly and many more. Early Notables of the Messerly familyDuring this period prominent bearers of the name Messerly 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 Messerly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Messerly RankingIn the United States, the name Messerly is the 17,235th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
 Messerly 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 Messerly or a variant listed above:
Messerly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Daniel Messerly, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1749
| Contemporary Notables of the name Messerly (post 1700) | + |
- Francis Messerly, American Republican politician, Member of Iowa State Senate 19th District; Elected 1970
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Messerly migration to the United States 
England
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