[Surname] Re: Meaning of the surname Mesmer.
Hi Lucille,

the name you are looking for is a German one. I found the following forms: Messner, Meßner, Mesner, Messmer, Meßmer, Mesmer.

It comes from the Middle German word "mess(e)nære" which means “sexton, sacristan, verger”. The word Mesner is still in use for a sacristan in Germany, but the expression Küster is more common. Küster is used as a surname, too.

Famous people with these names are:

Pierre Messmer *1916 (French polititian)
Joseph Messner 1893-1969 (Austrian composer and organist)
Reinhold Messner *1944 (Italian alpinist and author)
Franz Anton Mesmer 1734-1815 (doctor and theologian) - in my lexicon his first name is Franz, not Friedrich... (?)

Best regards,
Judith

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Messages

Meaning of the surname Mesmer.  ·  Lucille  ·  8/12/2002, 4:01 PM
Re: Meaning of the surname Mesmer.  ·  Judith  ·  8/17/2002, 3:43 PM
Re: Meaning of the surname Mesmer.  ·  Ashley Messner  ·  5/22/2003, 8:39 AM
Re: Meaning of the surname Mesmer.  ·  Lucille  ·  8/17/2002, 4:14 PM