The Messinger surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,436 people carried this name — #7,505 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 66,700 people counted. That is up 8% from 4,118 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Messinger surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the messenger’.

An early record he cites: Reginald le Messager, Norfolk, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Messenger and Messinger.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 529 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 137 people named Messinger live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Misiones.

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

Where they live today

Misiones 94
Buenos Aires Province 26
Río Negro 17

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 48 people named Messinger.

5 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 6 départements, most often Haut-Rhin.

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

Where they were born

Born outside France 5
Haut-Rhin 28
Paris 6
Jura 5
Lozère 2
Gironde 1
Territoire de Belfort 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

24 people named Messinger is counted in Sweden.

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

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 24

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).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Messinger was found among the farmers of Northamptonshire: 25 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Northamptonshire 25

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Messinger in American newspapers,
1894–1916.

Newspaper page from The Day Book carrying the name Messinger
The Day Book 1915-09-22
Newspaper page from The Day Book carrying the name Messinger
The Day Book 1916-05-15
Newspaper page from Abendblatt Der Illinois Staats-zeitung carrying the name Messinger
Abendblatt Der Illinois Staats-zeitung 1894-10-11

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Messinger in Australian newspapers,
1850s–1980s.

141 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Messinger. The most, 27, date from the 1890s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 45
Victoria 32
New South Wales 24
South Australia 21
Western Australia 14
ACT (Canberra) 2
Northern Territory 1
Tasmania 1

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

Who carried it

People named Messinger,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Daniel Messinger
    Daniel Messinger 1768–1846
  • Austin Messinger
    Austin Messinger 1817–1898 · politician
  • George Messinger
    George Messinger 1818–1865
  • Helen Messinger Murdoch
    Helen Messinger Murdoch 1862–1956 · photographer
  • Otto Eugen Messinger
    Otto Eugen Messinger 1875–1930 · art collector
  • Rosewell Emerson Messinger 1806–1863

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 Messinger,
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 States890 records

890 records of the Messinger name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 395
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 160
  • Other U.S. records 335
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Justin C. Messinger

    Born 1923 in Washington. Enlisted 1942 at San Francisco, California; welder. U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War; died 2001, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    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 Messinger

    Arrived at New York in 1839 aboard the Iowa from Havre, aged 21; farmer. From Hesse Nassau, Germany.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. A U.S. Army record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864
    Example: U.S. burial record, 1864
    Burial record Michael Lloyd Messinger

    U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Born 1954, died 1989; buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri.

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 890 records for Messinger in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · 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); Record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864, U.S. National Archives (public domain).

Netherlands144 records

144 records of the Messinger name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 125
  • Dutch population registers 19
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hermina Martina Messinger

    Married in 1923 in Arnhem. Died 1972 in Arnhem.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Evert Messinger

    Born 1847 in Arnhem. Married in 1875 in Venlo; postman.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Wilhelmina Maria Hubertina Messinger

    Born 1879 in Venlo. Died 1880 in Venlo.

    Open Archives, Gemeentearchief Venlo (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 144 records for Messinger 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).

Canada76 records

76 records of the Messinger name in Canada Nova Scotia Archives name indexes
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Timothy Troop Messinger

    Died 1928 in Centrelea, Annapolis, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Rosetta Messinger

    Died 1944 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Laura Mary Messinger

    Married 1905 in Kings, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 76 records for Messinger in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Germany54 records

54 records of the Messinger name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 53
  • German applications to settle and marry 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Ernst Messinger

    Born 1899; from Hohenstadt, Wimpfen. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 30 November 1918 (Field Artillery Regiment No. 104).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johann Messinger

    Named in an application to settle and marry at Altenhammer in 1820.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Staatsarchiv Amberg (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Gustav Messinger

    From Niederstetten, Gerabronn. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 28 December 1918 (Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 111).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 54 records for Messinger 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia18 records

18 records of the Messinger name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 8
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 6
  • Other Australian records 4
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Richard Messinger

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Burrell, arriving 1830; certificate of freedom 1839.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Huddart Messinger

    Arrived in Queensland in 1911 aboard the Torilla, aged 22.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Andrew Messinger

    Scientific officer of Sth Yarra, Victoria; died 1954.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Messinger in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

France12 records

12 records of the Messinger 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 Helene Messinger

    Born 1920 in Paris; died 2000 in Paris.

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

    Born 1914 in Kruth; died 1997 in Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin).

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

    Born 1902 in Vernantois (Jura); died 1992 in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 12 records for Messinger 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).

Switzerland3 records

3 records of the Messinger name in Switzerland Zürich marriage records, 16th–18th centuries
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Georg Messinger

    Married in 1765 in Grossmünster, canton of Zürich; of Schlierbach (Deutschland).

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elisabeth Messinger

    Married in 1585 in Winterthur, canton of Zürich.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anna Maria Salome Messinger

    Married in 1780 in Elgg, canton of Zürich; of Reichenweier (Elsass) (Frankreich).

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Messinger.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Messinger 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 Messinger volume
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