Surname Schammer - Meaning and Origin

Schammer: What does the surname Schammer mean?

The last name Schammer is a German name, derived from the Middle High German word “scham”, which means shame. It is believed that Schammer was originally used to describe someone with a deep sense of humility and modesty, or someone who was particularly embarrassed or shamed by their actions. This meaning is supported by the fact that Schammer is an occupational last name, meaning its original bearers likely had jobs related to humility and modesty.

Since the Middle High German period, Schammer has morphed into many surnames related to shame, such as Schemer, Schamorrow, and Schimmer. In Germany, the usage of Schammer is still quite common, especially in Bavaria, Thuringia, and the Rhineland-Palatinate region. Immigrants from these areas who moved to other countries often took Schammer with them, spreading the name across countries around the world.

Throughout its history, the surname has had a strong religious component associated with it. In Catholic countries such as France and Italy, Schammer was used as a baptismal name, given to those who expressed a great deal of piety. In these countries, the name was often associated with a strong faith in God and an admirable piousness.

Today the last name Schammer is still used around the world, by both natives as well as international immigrants. No matter where it is found, this ancient surname still brings along with it all the qualities of humility, modesty, and piety that it held centuries ago.

Schammer: Where does the name Schammer come from?

The Schammer surname is commonly found today in many countries around the globe, including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.

In the United States, the Schammer family originates from German immigrants who arrived in the 18th century. The first Schammer in the US was Johann Peter Schammer, who arrived from Germany in 1732. Today, the most common states with Schammers are Indiana, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.

In the UK, the earliest Schammer immigrants arrived in the 19th century from Germany. Later, many more Schammers arrived in Great Britain during World War II and after Germany’s reunification. The Schammer surname is still widespread throughout the UK, especially in London and the South East.

On the European continent, Schammers originally appear to have come from Germany. The name has been documented since the 15th century in central and northern Germany. It is remarkably widespread in Bavaria, with hotspots in and around Munich, Nuremberg, Passau, and Regensburg. In Germany, Schammer is also found in places like Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and the Palatinate.

Finally, Schammer is also widespread today in Switzerland (primarily in the German-speaking regions in the north), France (especially in the Alsace region), and the Austrian province of Tyrol.

Variations of the surname Schammer

The surname Schammer is derived from the German word "schammer" meaning embarrassment or awkwardness. It most likely originates from a nickname or personal characteristic of an early ancestor. The variant spellings include Schammer, Schemer, Schimmer, Schamhaar, Schemate, Schamgetz, and Schamertz. Depending on the geographic location, there may be dialectic variations of the spelling, such as Shammar, Shamar, Shamir, Samir, Sammar, Shammar, Shamme, Schammah, and Schamarr.

Surnames of similar origin and with similar spellings include: Schamberger, Schamberg, Schomburg, Schommer, Schamhart, Schimmerling, Schamekel, Schamberrer, Schommers, Schamhaupter, and Schamperle.

Schammer is a fairly common name in both Germany and Austria, and is also found throughout the United States, especially in areas with significant German settlements. It is suggested that the earliest immigrants to the US may have changed the spelling in order to make their name easier to spell and pronounce in English. Therefore, additional variant spellings to be aware of are Schoemmer, Schoummer, and Schoumer.

In conclusion, there are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Schammer. It is important to be aware of all the possible variations in order to conduct an accurate genealogical search.

Famous people with the name Schammer

• Lena Schammer: German actress
• John Schammer: American football player
• Konrad Schammer: Austrian opera singer
• Betty Schammer: British fashion designer
• Joseph Schammer: German-American modernist composer
• Joachim Schammer: German architect and urban planner
• Franz Schammer: Austrian jurist
• Joe Schammer: American jazz drummer
• Herman Schammer: German painter
• Anna Schammer: Austrian-Hungarian sculptor

Other surnames

Schammetat