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[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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What does the name Messner mean and where does it come from?
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Judith, thank you very, very much for your answer and for all the efforts you've made! :-) You're my hero! ;-) *grin*

About Friedrich Anton Mesmer... it appears he must've changed his first name to Franz. For example, this site mentions that his first name is originally Friedrich:

http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/313.html

And there are many other sites that say the same.

But anyway, thanks again! :-)

Regards,

Lucille
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