The Melcher surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,772 people carried this name — #7,018 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 61,700 people counted. That is up 1% from 4,745 in 2000.

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In Switzerland’s population statistics

195 people named Melcher live in Switzerland.

They live in 11 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Graubünden.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Graubünden 83
Zurich 38
Bern 13
Solothurn 11
St. Gallen 11
Aargau 9
Ticino 8
Basel-Landschaft 6

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Poland’s population register

98 people named Melcher have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 157 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 9 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Silesian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Silesian 29
Lower Silesian 18
Lublin 14
Łódź 13
Masovian 10
Lesser Poland 5
West Pomeranian 4
Warmian-Masurian 3

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In the Nordic population registers

85 people named Melcher is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 85

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In the first U.S. census, 1790

23 families named Melcher, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 137 people lived in those households, 6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

New Hampshire 12
Pennsylvania 5
Maine 4
Maryland 1
North Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 253 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Melcher in American newspapers,
1881–1911.

Newspaper page from Wessington Springs Herald carrying the name Melcher
Wessington Springs Herald 1884-02-01
Newspaper page from Minnesota Stats Tidning carrying the name Melcher
Minnesota Stats Tidning 1881-08-18
Newspaper page from Smyrna Times carrying the name Melcher
Smyrna Times 1911-11-22

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 30,459 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Melcher in Australian newspapers,
1880s–1970s.

156 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Melcher. The most, 30, date from the 1900s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 46
Victoria 45
New South Wales 27
Western Australia 23
South Australia 6
ACT (Canberra) 4
Tasmania 4

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Melcher.

Who carried it

People named Melcher,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Joseph Melcher
    Joseph Melcher 1806–1873 · Catholic priest
  • George Brackett Melcher
    George Brackett Melcher 1836–1896 · politician
  • Holman S. Melcher
    Holman S. Melcher 1841–1905 · politician
  • Bertha Corbett Melcher
    Bertha Corbett Melcher 1872–1950 · illustrator
  • Folke Melcher d. 1978 · military personnel
  • Serafín 1693–1763 · priest

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Melcher,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States625 records

625 records of the Melcher name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 257
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 150
  • Other U.S. records 218
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Clarence R. Melcher

    Born 1916 in North Dakota. Enlisted 1945 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota; driver. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1981, buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Marie Melcher

    Arrived at New York in 1850 aboard the Caroline from Messina, Naples, Palermo and Trieste, aged 37; farmer. From Ohio, Hanover, Germany; bound for Ohio.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Ervin S. Melcher

    Born 1932; from Outagamie County, Wisconsin. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1951 in South Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 625 records for Melcher in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Germany538 records

538 records of the Melcher name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 520
  • German emigration and citizenship files 18
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Hermann Melcher

    Born 1897; from Osettno, Löbau. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 4 December 1918 (Infantry Regiment No. 354).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Ludwig Melcher

    Emigrated to North America in 1856.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Gustav Adolf Melcher

    Emigrated to America in 1888.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)

Showing 3 of 538 records for Melcher in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Netherlands206 records

206 records of the Melcher name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 99
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 87
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 20
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johann Hendrik Melcher

    Married in 1915 in Amsterdam; office clerk. Died 1960 in Rotterdam, aged 68.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Rigtje Melcher

    Married in 1820 in Utingeradeel. Died 1840 in Oldeboorn, aged 43; hawker.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Elizabeth Melcher

    Born 1845 in Gouda. Died 1845 in Gouda.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Midden-Holland (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 206 records for Melcher in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Norway18 records

18 records of the Melcher name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Karl A. Melcher

    Census of 1910: Sommerfryd, Aker; smith, born 1848 in Tistedalen.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Einar Melcher

    Census of 1910: Sommerfryd, Aker; apprentice smith, born 1894 in Hof.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Ragna Karoline Melcher

    Census of 1910: Vaksdal, Bruvik; born 1879 in Kristiansund N.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Melcher in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Australia9 records

9 records of the Melcher name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 8
  • Tasmanian Names Index 1
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Isidore Melcher

    Arrived in Victoria in 1905 aboard the Ophir, aged 38.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Peter Dietrich Jurgen Melcher

    Died 1966 in Circular Head; inquest held in Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Geo Melcher

    Arrived in Victoria in 1865 aboard the Cathedral.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Melcher in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France7 records

7 records of the Melcher name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Nelly Albertine Melcher

    Born 1953 in Mana; died 1997 in Cayenne (Guyane).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robert Guy Melcher

    Born 1923 in Paris; died 1999 in Beaujeu (Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Dora Alvine Melcher

    Born 1909 in Germany; died 1995 in Metz (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Melcher in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Canada2 records

2 records of the Melcher name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 1
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Frederick Melcher

    Died in service in 1918.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.
  2. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record F. Melcher

    Central Ontario Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Melcher.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Melcher is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Melcher volume
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