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Messner Family History

Messner Name Meaning

South German: occupational name for a sexton churchwarden or verger Middle High German mesnære (Old High German mesināri from Late Latin ma(n)sionarius a derivative of mansio genitive mansionis ‘house (of God) church’). The double -s- is the result of association with Messe ‘Mass’. This surname is also found in France (mainly Alsace) and Slovenia (see also 3 below). Compare Mesner . In some cases also an Americanized or Germanized form Slovenian Mežnar (see Meznarich ) or Mesner cognates of 1 above. Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational for a sexton in a synagogue from southern German Messner ‘sexton’ (compare 1 above).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Messer, Gessner, Messier, Meissner, Nesser, Eisner, Mescher, Weisner

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Messner family from?

You can see how Messner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Messner family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Messner families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 4 Messner families living in Ohio. This was about 44% of all the recorded Messner's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Messner families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Messner surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Messner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Messner. 16% of Messner men worked as a Laborer and 9% of Messner women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Messner were Clerk and Housekeeper. .

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*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    16%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    9%
  • Housewife
    8%
  • Clerk
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Messner family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Messner. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Messner census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Messner

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Messner. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Messner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Messner. For the veterans among your Messner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Messner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Messner family history

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What is the average Messner lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Messner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Messner in 1944 was 30, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Messner

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