Surname Handschur - Meaning and Origin
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Handschur: What does the surname Handschur mean?
The last name Handschur is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German word "hansc" meaning "a hand." This suggests that the Handschur family were glove makers, someone who worked with their hands, or someone who was particularly skilled with their hands.
In medieval times most trades were passed down through families, and usually took the name of its profession or title. The name Handschur signified to the medieval community that the family was involved in some form of skilled manual labor.
The Handschur surname may even have a more specific origin. In Germany during the Middle Ages, it was common for skilled craftsmen to get nicknames that celebrated their skill in their craft. For example, a blacksmith might have been given the last name Hufschmied, which means "horse smith." The Handschurs were likely identified as especially gifted with their hands, and so were given the nickname Handschur to signify that.
It is an interesting fact that the Handschur name has been around for hundreds of years. Found all over Germany, this family has likely been involved in manual labor for generations. No matter the original context of the word "handschur" or what it specifically signifies today, this family certainly celebrates the importance of skilled work and using one’s hands to support oneself and their family over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisHandschur: Where does the name Handschur come from?
The last name Handschur is of German and Ashkenazi Jewish (Eastern European) origin and is a fairly common name in the present day. It can be found predominantly in Germany, the United States, and several other countries in Europe, as well as across the world.
In Germany, the name is most frequently seen in the northwestern part of the country, which includes cities like Cologne, Leverkusen, and Rhein-Ruhr. Handschur is also quite prevalent in Berlin. The name is also quite common in steps of the former East Germany, such as Saxony, Thuringia, and Mecklenburg. On a whole, almost 13,000 people in Germany have the name Handschur.
The Handschur clan is also quite widespread in the United States. In particular, there are quite a few Handschurs in the northeast of the country – from Massachusetts, to Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut. The name also can be found in many other parts of America, with the highest concentration in California. According to the 1990 US Census, there were about 1,400 individuals surnamed Handschur in the US at that time.
The Handschur name is also quite common across other European countries, such as Australia, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. As an Ashkenazi Jewish name, it is also seen in countries with large Jewish populations, such as Israel and Russia. In total, there are approximately 15,000 people throughout the world that carry the name Handschur.
Variations of the surname Handschur
Handschur is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word Handscher, which itself is derived from the Old High German word Handschar. The literal meaning of the word is "little hand shear".
The Handchur surname is a variation of the original Handschur spelling and is thought to have been used to distinguish between different family lines or specific branches within the Handschur family. As with surname spellings throughout the German diaspora, this alternate spelling can be commonly found in German-speaking countries today.
Other variants of the Handschur surname include Handschuh, Handshuh, Handschar, Handshar, Hanzcher, Handscher, Handsher, Hanzshor, Hadzsher and Hadzscher.
These spellings are found in the places which the Handschur family originally settled– particularly in South and Central Germany in the Upper Rhine valley, and in parts of Switzerland and Austria.
The family surnames is also widespread throughout other countries and cultures, particularly in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Holland, and Australia.
The Handschur surname is also linked with numerous other family names, most likely due to migrations and marriages throughout the years. Some of these related names include Hantschur, Hantscher, Haunschur, Haunscher, Hansher, Hanshure, Handsherer, Handschuh, Handshagen, Handscher, and Handshur.
Famous people with the name Handschur
- Alex Handschur: Alex Handschur is an American actor, writer, and producer best known for his work in the dramas “The Wire” and “Into the Badlands”.
- Michael Handschur: Michael Handschur is an accomplished chef and restaurateur. He has worked in several high-end restaurants, including Maisonette and Coquette, and is an expert in French and American cuisine.
- Rachel Handschur: Rachel Handschur is a health professional from the United States. She is an American Heart Association-certified group exercise instructor, a certified yoga instructor, and a certified personal trainer.
- Esther Handschur: Esther Handschur is an author and entrepreneur from Germany. She is the author of several books, including “The Revenue Revolution” and “Grow Faster: The Innovative System for Rapidly Growing Companies”.
- Markus Handschur: Markus Handschur is a German soccer player who currently plays for the SV Darmstadt 98. He has previously competed for both the German National Team and the Hameln Mine Breakers.
- Jana Handschur: Jana Handschur is a German classical musician and composer. Her works have been performed by various orchestras, including the Bamberger Symphonie Orchester.
- Lila Handschur: Lila Handschur is an American business entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of SHG Network, an online business consultation firm.
- Carl Handschur: Carl Handschur is a Swiss cyclist and racer from the late-19th century. He was a champion cyclist who competed in various international races, including the 1892 Paris-Roubaix.