Metzger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Metzger family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Metzger is an occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a butcher. The surname Metzger is derived from the German word metzger, which means butcher.
Early Origins of the Metzger family
The surname Metzger was first found in Bavaria, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. Chronicles first mention Burch vor der Mezzje of Zuerich in 1258, and Conrad hinter der Mezzje of Constance in 1259. The literal translation of the name into English would be "butcher" or "meat market." In their later history the family became a power unto themselves, and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into a most influential family.
Early History of the Metzger family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Metzger research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1623, 1632, 1635, 1637, 1683, 1687, 1701, 1702, 1740 and 1775 are included under the topic Early Metzger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Metzger 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 Metzger include Metzger, Mezger, Metzeler, Metzler, Mezler and others.
Early Notables of the Metzger family
Prominent among members of the name Metzger in this period include
- Georg Balthasar Metzger (1623-1687), a German physician and scientist, one of the four founding members of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Schweinfurt
Metzger Ranking
In the United States, the name Metzger is the 2,037th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Metzger is ranked the 1,565th most popular surname with an estimated 3,803 people with that name. 2
Metzger migration to the United States +
Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Metzger or a variant listed above:
Metzger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Philip Metzger and Johan Metzger, both of whom emigrated with their wives and children to England and/or America in 1709
- George Metzger, aged 34, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1742 3
- David Metzger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 3
- Philip Metzger, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 3
- Valentin Metzger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1764 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Metzger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Abraham Metzger, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 3
- Theobald Metzger, aged 29, who landed in Missouri in 1842 3
- Mr. Philip C. Metzger, aged 25, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Dyle Soomes"
- Mr. Jacob C. Metzger, aged 15, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Dyle Soomes"
- Friederick Metzger, aged 11, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Dyle Soomes"
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Metzger Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Simon Metzger, who arrived in Alabama in 1919 3
Metzger migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Metzger Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Charles Metzger, (b. 1806), aged 21, English soldier who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1845 4
Contemporary Notables of the name Metzger (post 1700) +
- Brigadier-General Earl Harrison Metzger (1889-1972), American Commanding Officer 76th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade, Caribbean (1943-1945) 5
- Roger Henry Metzger (b. 1947), American Major League Baseball shortstop
- Sol S. Metzger (1880-1932), American football player, coach of football and basketball
- William Ernest Metzger (1868-1933), American automotive pioneer, co-founder of the E-M-F Company, an early American automobile manufacturer
- Second Lieutenant William E Metzger Jr., American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
- Bruce Metzger, American evangelical writer and scholar
- Clay Metzger, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1932 6
- Charles J. Metzger, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 23rd District, 1924; Chair of Fayette County Republican Party, 1950 6
- C. E. Metzger, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alaska Territory, 1956 6
- Bruce A. Metzger, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 6th District, 1928 6
- ... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Suggested Readings for the name Metzger +
- Germanic Roots of Chicagoans Harvey Metzger Ehlers & Evelynne Meilborg Ehlers by Harvey Metzger Ehlers.
- The Metzger Family History by Willodean Rickel Metzger.
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2013, May 9) Earl Metzger. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Metzger/Earl_Harrison/USA.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html