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![Show Contents]() Messersmith Surname History
The name Messersmith was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a person employed in reaping or harvesting. The name can be traced to the Old French word messier, which meant harvester. Early Origins of the Messersmith familyThe surname Messersmith was first found in Lincolnshire where they were one of the noted families of the area. Roger Messer was the first on record in Lincolnshire, in 1172, a little over a century after the Conquest. In 1180 Erkenbald Messer was recorded in the same county. At about the same time Jacobus Mesoart was registered in Normandy. Early in their history a branch of this family moved to Scotland. Early History of the Messersmith familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Messersmith research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1273, 1296 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Messersmith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Messersmith Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Messersmith include Messer, Mesher, Messor, Mersser, Masar, Messier, Meisser, Measure and many more. Early Notables of the Messersmith familyMore information is included under the topic Early Messersmith Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Messersmith RankingIn the United States, the name Messersmith is the 13,218th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
 Messersmith migration to the United States | + |
In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Messersmiths to arrive on North American shores:
Messersmith Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Johan Jurg Messersmith, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 2
- Hans Henrich Messersmith, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
Messersmith Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Henry Messersmith, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 2
- J S Messersmith, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Messersmith (post 1700) | + |
- Walter L. Messersmith, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1972
- George Strausser Messersmith (1883-1960), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Cuba, 1940-42; Mexico, 1941-46; Argentina, 1946-47
- Frank S. Messersmith, American Republican politician, Candidate for Florida State House of Representatives 78th District, 1978
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
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Messersmith migration to the United States 
England
Germany
