Surname Kupferschmidt - Meaning and Origin

Kupferschmidt: What does the surname Kupferschmidt mean?

Kupferschmidt is an uncommon German surname, first found in the Rhein-Main region of Switzerland. Its literal translation is "copper smith". This indicates that a lineage of Kupferschmidts were historically members of the smithing trade, likely associated with horse-drawn carriage making or plumbing.

The first known record of the Kupferschmidt surname is in 1205 in Switzerland. The earliest origins of this surname in the region are linked to the Old Saxons, a Germanic people who were present in this area as early as the 3rd century.

Kupferschmidt is not the only German surname associated with copper smithing. Another is Kupershmidt, which is also spelled Küpperschmidt.

The Kupferschmidt surname is an especially unusual one and is thought to be a combination of the names of two copper smith families. Records suggest that this surname was most commonly found in Southern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria during the early 20th century and there are still families carrying this surname in those locations today.

Kupferschmidt is a rare and distinguished surname, that is a reflection of the history of a skilled craft and family pride.

Kupferschmidt: Where does the name Kupferschmidt come from?

The last name Kupferschmidt is most commonly found in Germany. Originally a regionally-specific surname, it originated in what is now known as Saxony, a state in the eastern part of Germany. Today, Kupferschmidt is relatively uncommon, but still found across the country. In fact, according to the German census of 2012, there remain almost 5,000 people bearing this surname living in Germany.

Interestingly, Kupferschmidt is also present in many parts of Europe beyond Germany. For instance, it is commonly found in the Czech Republic where, based on a minority census carried out in 2011, there are approximately 1,000 people bearing this incorporated surname. Similarly, it appears that names ending with ‘schmidt’, such as Kupferschmidt, can also be found in other countries within the European Union too.

Elsewhere, Kupferschmidt is also present in the United States, particularly in states within the Midwest and Northeast. Here, it is believed to have been brought over by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Hence, the highest population of this surname is located in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin, no surprise given the German heritage of those states. Today, it is still relatively rare, but it is estimated that over 2,000 people of Kupferschmidt descent are currently living in the states of the USA.

Variations of the surname Kupferschmidt

Variations of the German surname Kupferschmidt include Kufperschmidt, Kupfershmidt, Kupferschmid, Kupfermid, Kupfermidt, Kupfermied, Kupfersmidt, Kupfesmidt, Kupferscmid, Kupferscmidt, Kupferssmid, Kupferssmit, Kupferssmydt, Kupferschmidth, Kupferschmydt, Kupfershmidt, Kupfershmid, Kufperschmid, Kufperschmidt, Kupferschmidel, Kupferschmel, Kupferschemel, Kupferschmelt, Kupferschemele, Kupferschemeler, Kupferschemelen, Kupferschemels, Kupferschmydel, Kupferschmele, Kupferschmiedel, Kupferschmilten, and Kupferschmittel.

The origin of the Kupferschmidt surname is Germanic. It is derived from the Old German words"kupf" meaning copper and "schmied" meaning smith. This is a metonymic occupational name referring to a worker in copper. This surname could refer to a person working with copper production, copper trading, or processing of copper products.

Kupferschmidt is an ethnic German surname found mainly in the Central Francophone region of France. In Germany, it is primarily associated with the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria. It is found in many variations across Europe and the United States. It has been Anglicized as Copfersmith, Cooper, Cupper, Copper, Kupersmith, Kopperschmidt, Kupfersmied, Kumpfersmit, Kupfersmitt, Kupferschmid, and Kupferschmidth. Over time other spellings of this surname have evolved and some of the original spellings have become obsolete.

Famous people with the name Kupferschmidt

• Robert Kupferschmidt: Former President of LTS International Trading.
• Erich Kupferschmidt: Austrian Businessman and political figure.
• Hugo Kupferschmidt: Austrian composer and conductor.
• Lilian Kupferschmidt: Jewish American artist and researcher.
• Alex Kupferschmidt: Co-Founder of Lemonade Insurance company.
• Joshua Kupferschmidt: Co-founder and CEO of SoftwareONE.
• Julian Kupferschmidt: American professional footballer.
• Alan Kupferschmidt: Award-winning film producer and composer.
• Bruce Kupferschmidt: Former owner of Vancouver Canucks hockey team.
• David Kupferschmidt: Computer programmer and entrepreneur.
• Olaf Kupferschmidt: Olympic-level discus thrower and coach.
• Josef Kupferschmidt: German entomologist and zoo director.
• Gerd Kupferschmidt: German federal prosecutor.
• Peter Kupferschmidt: Former director of the UK National Gallery.
• Sigfried Kupferschmidt: Professor of Physics and Philosophy.
• Edith Kupferschmidt: Austrian author and public historian.
• Olivia Kupferschmidt: Professional diver and underwater photographer.
• Markus Kupferschmidt: Austrian jazz musician and songwriter.
• Ruth Kupferschmidt: Violinist and musicologist.
• Maria Kupferschmidt: Hollywood film and television costume designer.

Other surnames

KupferschmidKupferschmiedKupferschmiedtKupferschmitKupferschmitt