Surname Hamschmidt - Meaning and Origin
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Hamschmidt: What does the surname Hamschmidt mean?
The last name Hamschmidt is derived from two German words: Ham and Schmidt (the modern German spelling of Smith). Together, the two words mean "Ham Smith" or "Smith the Ham".
The surname is likely derived from a trade in which a member of the Hamschmidt family was involved. In Germany, ham-smiths were skilled tradesmen familiar with the process of curing hams, or the way of salting, smoking, and drying meat so it can be stored and consumed later. It is possible that someone in the Hamschmidt family was a professional ham-smith, which may explain the origins of their surname.
The Hamschmidts may have also taken their name from a location. There are several towns and villages in Germany named "Hamschmidt," all of which are likely named after the family.
Today, the Hamschmidts are likely spread out around the world. It is likely that some Hamschmidts kept their profession of ham-smithing while others embraced different trades and professions. Regardless of the origins and current occupations of the Hamschmidts, it is clear that the surname has a rich history and will continue to tell a unique story for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisHamschmidt: Where does the name Hamschmidt come from?
The last name Hamschmidt is most common in Germany today. Records show that the name has existed in Germany since at least the 16th century, although its exact origin is still unknown. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many people bearing the name migrated from Germany to other countries, primarily the United States and other parts of Europe. In recent years, the census data from the United States shows the highest concentration of Hamschmidts in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Germany, however, still remains the country with the highest number of individuals who carry the family name. Records from the National Association of Names Data reveal that there are about 8,000 people who still have the name Hamschmidt living in Germany. The most common variations of this last name include Harmsschmidt, Hauschmidt, Hemscmidt, and Hoschmidt.
It appears that the name is still well-represented in modern times, and is a testament to the family heritage which perhaps extends back hundreds of years. While the exact origin of the name is unknown, it seems clear that the Hamschmidt family continues to carry on the tradition today in many different parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Hamschmidt
The surname Hamschmidt is most common in Germany and is derived from the Hamme River, which was thought to be the element where the name originated from. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Hamschmidt include:
Hamscmitt, Hamschemdt, Hamschmiedt, Hamschildt, Hammeschmidt, Hammschmidt, Hammelschmidt, Hammschmedt, and Hammschmitt.
Hamschemdt is a Germanic sized naming changed from its original form, Hamscmidt, while Hamscmitt is a variant of that form. Hamschmiedt is an alternate spelling of Hamschmidt, as is Hamschildt. Hammeschmidt is a High German variant of Hamschmidt, while Hammschmidt is a variant form of the surname.
Hammelschmidt is a variation ofHamschmidt, as well as Hammschmedt and Hammschmitt. Hammschmedt is another variation and spelling of Hammschmidt, as is Hammschmitt.
The surname Hamschmidt may have been derived from the Hamme River, as the suffix “schmidt” was often found in place names, meaning “smith.” The names that use this suffix generally had a relation to something to do with forging or smithing. Common occupational names were derived from the craft or trade that the individual practiced in order to make a living. Thus, the suffix “schmidt” became associated with occupational names, and over time, individuals adopted that suffix in order to create surnames. As such, variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hamschmidt are numerous.
Famous people with the name Hamschmidt
- Gary Hamschmidt: a prominent American boxer who won the junior middleweight championship of the world in 1975.
- Paul Hamschmidt: an Austrian ski jumper and Olympian who won Olympic gold in 1972.
- Alexander Hamschmidt: a German composer and music theorist who was featured in Hamburg's Defense Medal.
- Albert Hamschmidt: a German physicist who became the director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical Chemistry.
- Johan Hamschmidt: a Swedish competitive swimmer and two-time Olympic medalist.
- William Hamschmidt: a German painter and sculptor, most famous for his works during the Munich Secession Movement.
- Alfred Hamschmidt: a Swiss painter and graphic artist, renowned for his landscapes in the bordering area of Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
- André Hamschmidt: a German sailor who won two Olympic gold medals in the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.
- Theodor Hamschmidt: an Austrian genealogist and entomologist who studied the Lepidoptera family of moths and butterflies.
- Willem Hamschmidt: a Dutch ice hockey player, who was part of the gold medal winning team in the 1922 World Championships.