Surname Dürrschmidt - Meaning and Origin
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Dürrschmidt: What does the surname Dürrschmidt mean?
The last name Dürrschmidt is of German origin, and is thought to derive from the Middle High German word ‘dir’ or ‘thür’, which has a number of meanings including ‘threshold’, ‘door’ and ‘gate’. The second part of the name, ‘schmidt’, is the most common surname in Germany and is a derivative of the word ‘schmied’ meaning ‘smith’ and indicates an occupation. As such, the literal translation of the name is ‘Door-Smith’ or ‘Gate-Smith’.
The earliest reference to the name dates back to 1649, from the baptismal register of the church in Eltville-Erbach in the Rheingau District, Germany. The name is most commonly found in the German states of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse. It has since spread to other European countries, including France, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as immigrating to the United States, South America, and Canada.
The modern day variant of the name includes Dürrsch, Dürrschmidt, Thürrschold, and Thürscheld, and is likely the result of phonetic changes and regional variations in pronunciation. Those bearing the last name are thought to be independent and strong-willed, qualities hinted at by the ‘door-smith’ meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisDürrschmidt: Where does the name Dürrschmidt come from?
The last name Dürrschmidt is a German surname which is more common today in Saxony and Thuringia in Eastern Germany. It is most commonly found in the metropolitan areas of Leipzig and Dresden, as well as in the surrounding countryside.
Descriptive records in German archives throughout history place a number of people named Dürrschmidt in the area of Saxony from as early as 1500, during the Middle Ages. These records indicate that the people who held this surname were usually farmers, tradesmen or small business proprietors, and often resided in rural or suburban areas. In recent centuries, the population with this German surname has grown larger, but is still relatively uncommon in Germany.
In addition to Germany, people with the surname Dürrschmidt can be found in other European countries, such as Austria and Hungary. This indicates that there was significant migration of people with this surname out of Germany in earlier centuries.
It is also becoming increasingly common to find people with this surname in parts of North America and Australia, as well as other parts of the world. This suggests that significant numbers of people bearing the name have migrated from their German hometowns to these countries in recent decades.
Overall, the surname Dürrschmidt is most commonly associated with Saxony and Thuringia in Eastern Germany, with the main areas of concentration being in and around the cities of Leipzig and Dresden. However, it is becoming more and more common in other parts of the world as well, with significant populations in North America, Australia, and more.
Variations of the surname Dürrschmidt
Dürrschmidt is an ancient German surname, and its most common alternate spellings are Durrschmidt, Durrschmied, Dürr and Durr.
Dürrschmidt is derived from the German word 'Dürre', which translates to 'dry' or 'lean'. This points to people who are lean and thin, and it may have been given as a nickname to an ancestor of this surname.
The surname is also thought to have been derived from the occupation of blacksmithing, which was referred to as 'Dürrschmied' in old German. 'Dürrschmied' was a craftsman, a blacksmith specifically, whose business is to make and forge iron tools and utensils.
Variants of the surname are further compounded by variations in the transliteration of the German spelling. The most common variation is 'Dürr', which appears in records in various places. The surname is high in Germany, Europe and other countries that have a sizable German population. These countries may include the United States, Canada and other German-speaking countries.
Surname variants from countries outside Germany may include Duremsaid, Dairsmith, Daired, Doremsped, Dirksmith, Dorschied and others.
Overall, the most common surnames that can be derived from Dürrschmidt are Durrschmidt, Durrschmied, Dürr, Durr and Dürschmidt. Spelling and pronunciation of the surname may be heavily influenced by the language and culture of the country of origin.
Famous people with the name Dürrschmidt
- Matthias Dürrschmidt: German football player and manager.
- Victoria Dürrschmidt: German singer and songwriter.
- Peter Dürrschmidt: German politician, lawyer and diplomat.
- Hermann Dürrschmidt: German Olympic athlete and sprinter.
- Johannes Dürrschmidt: German astronomer and professor of instrumentation.
- Ludwig Dürrschmidt: German theologian and academic.
- Jan Dürrschmidt: German inventor and entrepreneur, the founder of Berlin's first brewery, Dürrschmidt Brewery.
- Heinrich Dürrschmidt: German engineer and professor of metallurgy.
- Hermann Dürrschmidt-Lübke: German political analyst and scientist.
- Marcel Dürrschmidt: German-born, Grammy Award-winning songwriter and music producer.