Melchor
A surname ultimately tied to the personal name Melchior, the name of one of the Three Magi in Christian tradition.
The #4,269 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,113 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Melchor is usually a Spanish surname taken from the given name Melchor, a Spanish form of Melchior. That personal name is traditionally associated with one of the Three Kings or Magi, and is commonly explained as meaning something like “king of light” or “my king is light,” though the exact ancient form is debated. As a surname, it began as a patronymic or name-based identifier from a bearer of the forename Melchor.
History
The name spread widely in Spanish-speaking regions through Christian naming practice, especially devotion to the Magi. As a surname it is most common where Spanish naming traditions are strong, including Spain and much of Latin America. In Irish surname lists, Melchor may appear only as an incidental comparison with other names, not as an indigenous Irish family name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The related given name Melchor is especially common in Catholic tradition because Melchior is one of the traditional names of the Three Wise Men.
From the historical record
“meAllAii, Mellan, Meldan. meilfe6itA, Melchor. miceAl, miccAl, Michael. mtiiticeApcAC, Murtaugh, Murty; Mortimer.”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames