Explore the Family Name Melchior
The meaning of Melchior
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.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Melchior in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Melchior has slightly decreased in the past decade. In 2000, Melchior ranked 19,587 in the list of popular surnames, but dropped to 20,172 by 2010, representing a decrease of 2.99%. However, despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with the Melchior surname increased from 1,274 to 1,322, a growth of 3.77%. The proportion per 100k of the population also decreased slightly from 0.47 in 2000 to 0.45 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,587 | #20,172 | -2.99% |
| Count | 1,274 | 1,322 | 3.77% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.45 | -4.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Melchior
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Melchior has seen changes over time. According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the percentage of Melchiors identifying as white decreased from 95.21% in 2000 to 92.06% in 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as Hispanic nearly doubled from 1.33% to 2.65%, and those identifying as black saw an increase from 1.96% to 2.65%. There was a remarkable increase in Melchiors identifying with two or more ethnicities, which surged from 0.47% to 1.66%. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased from 0.47% to 0.38%, while those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a modest increase from 0.55% to 0.61%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.21% | 92.06% | -3.31% |
| Hispanic | 1.33% | 2.65% | 99.25% |
| Black | 1.96% | 2.65% | 35.2% |
| Two or More Races | 0.47% | 1.66% | 253.19% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.55% | 0.61% | 10.91% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.47% | 0.38% | -19.15% |