Metzger
A German occupational surname meaning “butcher.”
The #1,724 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,864 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Metzger comes from German metzger, “butcher,” an occupational word used as a surname for someone who cut and sold meat. The Middle High German form is usually given as metzjer or related spellings, and scholars connect it ultimately with Late Latin macellarius, meaning a market- or meat-dealer. Related surnames such as Metzler and Metzel belong to the same name family.
History
This is a common German occupational surname and appears widely in German-speaking regions, especially in the south and west. It also spread into the United States and other countries through German immigration. Historical surname dictionaries frequently group Metzger with other butcher-trade names such as Metzler.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older sources note that some German surnames like this were first formed with the definite article, as in expressions equivalent to “Heinz the butcher.”
From the historical record
“army] METZGER (Ger.) Butcher [M.H.Ger.. metzjer ; L.Lat. matiarius] METZLER (Ger.) Butcher [Rhen. Ger. metzler; ult. f. Lat. macellarius, provisioh- dealer— ffiace//«»j, provision or meat market] MEUNIER (Fr.) Miller [O.Fr. meulnier (S.Fr. molinier), Lat. molinarius]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)