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Melchior Family History

Melchior Surname Meaning

German, Danish, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Czech: from the Biblical personal name Melchior (a derivative of Hebrew melech ‘king’ + or ‘light splendor’).

This was in use as a personal name in parts of Europe throughout the Middle Ages, having been ascribed in popular Christian tradition to one of the Magi.

The surname is also borne by Ashkenazic Jews, in which case it is an adoption of the German or Czech surname rather than a direct derivative of Hebrew.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Melchior family from?

You can see how Melchior families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Melchior family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Melchior families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 16 Melchior families living in London. This was about 70% of all the recorded Melchior's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Melchior families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Melchior surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Melchior ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Melchior. 100% of Melchior men worked as a General Labourer and 50% of Melchior women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Melchior | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    50%
  • Chambermaid Hotel
    25%
  • German Mistress
    25%

What Melchior family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Melchior. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Melchior census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Melchior

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Melchior. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Melchior immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Melchior. For the veterans among your Melchior ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Melchior military records

You've only scratched the surface of Melchior family history

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What is the average Melchior lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Melchior life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Melchior in 1956 was 46, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Melchior

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Melchior ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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