Show ContentsMorgenstern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Morgenstern

What does the name Morgenstern mean?

The name is derived from the Middle German words "morgen" meaning "morning" and "stern" meaning "star." Combined the name means "one who lived at the sign of the morning star."

Early Origins of the Morgenstern family

The surname Morgenstern was first found in Anhalt, where the name could be considered to have made a great contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of modern Europe. The family 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. The name is derived from the Middle German words "morgen" meaning "morning" and "stern" meaning "star." Combined the name means "one who lived at the sign of the morning star."

Early History of the Morgenstern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morgenstern research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1768, 1789, 1836, 1871 and 1914 are included under the topic Early Morgenstern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Morgenstern Spelling Variations

In 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 Morgenstern include Morgenstern, Morgensterner and others.

Early Notables of the Morgenstern family

Notable figures of the time with the name Morgenstern were

  • Christian Morgenstern (1871-1914), who was the son of an artist from Breslau...

Morgenstern Ranking

In the United States, the name Morgenstern is the 14,812nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Morgenstern migration to the United States +

Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Morgenstern Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Morgenstern, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1728 2
  • Johann Engelbert Morgenstern, who settled in Philadelphia in 1749
  • Johan Engelbert Morgenstern, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
  • Carl Friedrich Morgenstern, who landed in Long Island in 1781 2
Morgenstern Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adam Morgenstern, who arrived in New York City in 1821
  • Adolph Morgenstern, who arrived in New York in 1850 2
  • Elkan Morgenstern, who landed in New York in 1850 2
  • Peter Morgenstern, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1854 2
  • Robert Morgenstern, who settled in Philadelphia in 1856
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Morgenstern Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Isaac Morgenstern, who arrived in Alabama in 1923 2

Morgenstern migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Morgenstern Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Calrl Friedrich (Captain) Morgenstern, a German mercenary, who was on record in Quebec in 1776

Contemporary Notables of the name Morgenstern (post 1700) +

  • Julian Morgenstern (1881-1976), American rabbi, Bible scholar, and president of Hebrew Union College
  • Harold "Hal" Morgenstern (b. 1946), American epidemiologist and professor of epidemiology
  • Erin Morgenstern (b. 1978), American multimedia artist and the author
  • Joe Morgenstern (b. 1932), American Pulitzer Prize-winning (2005) film critic for The Wall Street Journal
  • Oscar W. Morgenstern, American Republican politician, Mayor of Williamstown, West Virginia, 1965-66 3
  • Ed Morgenstern, American Republican politician, Mayor of Salina, Kansas, 1937-45; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1940, 1952 3
  • Ralph Morgenstern (b. 1956), Ralph Morgenstern-Nolting, German actor and TV host
  • Johann Karl Simon Morgenstern (1770-1852), German philologist
  • Christian Ernst Bernhard Morgenstern (1805-1867), German landscape painter
  • Barbara Morgenstern (b. 1971), German electronic music artist, keyboardist and singer
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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