Surname Altenschmidt - Meaning and Origin
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Altenschmidt: What does the surname Altenschmidt mean?
The last name Altenschmidt is of German origins and is derived from two words; "alt" and "schmidt". It can be roughly translated to "High Smith" or "Old Smith", likely referring to the profession of a blacksmith.
At the time the family name would have originated, a blacksmith was an incredibly important position in a village. They would have been responsible for the smelting and forging of metal items, ranging from horseshoes to kitchenware. In many ways, the blacksmith was the true backbone of a community, as many products and services used by the local people could not have been produced without them. In addition to this, their knowledge of metalwork meant that they were often sought out by those requiring jewelry and weapon production, since few other people had the skill necessary.
As a result of this, those who had the Altenschmidt surname likely found a great deal of respect and honor within their local area, and the family name has likely been seen as an attribute of both strength and skill ever since. Some source evidence also suggests that the handed down legacy of blacksmithing has been inherited through the Altenschmidt family in some cases, passing from generation to generation and keeping the family name alive long after the career itself had declined in popularity. In any case, the Altenschmidt family name undoubtedly carries a great deal of history and pride associated with it.
Order DNA origin analysisAltenschmidt: Where does the name Altenschmidt come from?
The last name Altenschmidt is believed to have originated in Prussia, which was what is now known as northern Germany and parts of Poland. Because of its origin, Altenschmidt is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and other countries in Europe. There is a small population of people of this name in the United States, though the majority are descendants of German-speaking immigrants who arrived during the 19th and 20th centuries.
You can find Altenschmidt living in Germany—in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, and Leipzig—as well as throughout Austria. As well, there are some smaller numbers of Altenschmidts living in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Italy.
In Germany, particularly in Brandenburg, Altenschmidts are often the largest group of people with a common name. This is likely due to the fact that Brandenburg retained its status as a German province following World War II, which has allowed many of these families to continue living there.
In the United States, Altenschmidts can predominantly be traced back to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. However, there’s also a small population living in California, Arizona, and New York City, thanks to those that chose to emigrate during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Altenschmidts in the U.S. mostly descend from original settlers who were of German and Austrian origin, and were most likely drawn to the country due to opportunities in industry and agriculture. Despite being small in number, their families still honor their Prussian roots through musical events, festivals, clubs, churches, and other cultural activities.
Variations of the surname Altenschmidt
The surname Altenschmidt is a German surname found in both Germany and the United States. The most common variant of this surname is Altenschmid, which is a spelling variation. Other variants and spellings of Altenschmidt include Altenshmid, Altenschidt, Altenschmidt, Altenschmit, and Altenschmeid.
Surnames of similar origin and meaning to Altenschmidt include Altensee, Altenstein, Altenburg, and Altenberg. Altensee is derived from the Old High German words "alten" meaning "old" and "see" meaning "lake". Altenstein, Altenburg, and Altenberg are derived from the Old High German words "alt" meaning "old" and "berg" meaning "mountain", and are all topographic names signifying someone who was from an area with an old mountain.
Altenschmidt can also be found as a patronymic surname, meaning someone is descended from the original bearer of the surname. This patronymic form of Altenschmidt is Altensohn, meaning "son of Alten". This form of the surname has either evolved from the original spelling of Altenschmidt or from an adopted form of another name.
Altenschmidt is also found as a combined surname, meaning two or more surnames fused together. This includes names such as Altenschmidt und Altenberg (Altenschmidt and Altenberg), and Altenschmidt von Altenburg (Altenschmidt of Altenburg). Combined names are often found in aristocratic families that use a combination of their surnames to designate their family origin.
In short, the surname Altenschmidt has many variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin, including Altenschmid, Altenshmid, Altensee, Altenstein, Altenburg, and Altenberg. The patronymic form of Altenschmidt is Altensohn, and the combined surname forms are names such as Altenschmidt und Altenberg and Altenschmidt von Altenburg.
Famous people with the name Altenschmidt
- Philipp Altenschmidt, German co-owner of the Vestner GmbH company
- Michael Altenschmidt, a German scholar and author that has written extensively about art history
- Juliane Altenschmidt, the current manager of the German tennis magazine, Tennis-Point
- Rainer Altenschmidt, a retired German philosopher
- Lolita Altenschmidt, a former German equestrian champion
- Andrew Altenschmidt, an American video game designer and producer
- David Altenschmidt, an American actor and performer
- Annika Altenschmidt, a former German soccer player
- Bernhard Altenschmidt, a German visual artist and 3D animator
- Wolfgang Altenschmidt, a German sculptor and teacher