Surname Scharnetzki - Meaning and Origin

Scharnetzki: What does the surname Scharnetzki mean?

The last name Scharnetzki is derived from the German language and is traditionally of westphalian origin, likely derived from the North Germanic words 'Schare' and 'Netzke', meaning 'village with a net.' This is thought to refer to a place known for its craft of net- or lace- making, and it likely had some historical significance to the family name.

This surname is usually found in the southern parts of Germany, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt; these families may have moved from north-central Germany to Prussia afterwards. It also appears in Silesia, which is now in present-day Poland.

Interestingly, this surname is speculatively linked to the old Roman family 'Scarnacius', a nobility of Gaul who were among the first to migrate to Britain. This connection is supported by the name Scharners carrying Roman authority titles such as 'comes' or 'count'.

The meaning of the name Scharnetzki speaks to its Germanic roots and historic importance, providing an interesting insight into the family's past.

Scharnetzki: Where does the name Scharnetzki come from?

The surname Scharnetzki is an occupational surname of Germanic origin meaning "cart maker", stemming from the Middle High German word "scharnetzze" and the word "scharn".

The name can be commonly found in many regions of Germany – particularly in the north – but is most often seen in the two East German states of Saxony and Brandenburg, as well as in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). At various points throughout the GDR’s history, the name Scharnetzki was given to a multitude of places, streets, and businesses throughout the Soviet-controlled portion of Germany.

Nowadays, in addition to Germany, the surname is mostly commonly seen in the United States. There, the Scharnetzki family is concentrated in the Northeast, in parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, as well as in Arizona and California.

Nationally, the Scharnetzki family is still relatively small. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, just under 10,000 Americans claim the Scharnetzki surname. There have been several notable figures bearing this name, including Romanian film director and screenwriter Cristian Scharnetzky, Hungarian World War II fighter pilot Sándor Scharnetzki, and even Admiral Carl Scharnetzky, a priority figure in the Nazi rival Luftwaffe.

Variations of the surname Scharnetzki

The surname Scharnetzki is thought to have originated from a German given name of Scharnold, which arose from the root "schar," meaning "care, charge, or protect." It is speculated by some that the name was most likely first used by a brave warrior who defended his land or people, thus receiving the name Scharnold as a sign of honor. Variations of Scharnetzki include:

Scharneck, Scharnik, Scharnick, Scharnickle, Scharnack, Scharnacki, Scharnagh, Scharnecki, Scharnicki, Scharnetke, Scharnetzke, Scharnetzi, Scharnicky, Scharnetzki, Scharnestki, Scharnezik, Scharnecky, Scharnig, Scharnyck, Scharnyrck, Scharnzyk, Scharnkzki, and Scharnetki.

Most variants of the Scharnetzki surname are German in origin. Many of these variations are still found in Germany, as well as in parts of Poland and other Eastern European nations. This group is also found in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and New England, where it is likely that many of the early immigrants came from the German-speaking lands.

The variants of Scharnetzki are also found among Swiss Germans. These spellings are likely derived from an older form of the name as it was printed in the Swiss language and dialects. Variants and spellings of the surname include Scharnitzky, Charnitski, Scharnisal, Scharnigg, Scharnitke, Scharnethky, and Scharnitzer.

While the origin of the Scharnetzki surname is most likely German, many of its descendants have spread to other parts of the world and have adapted the spelling and pronunciation of the surname to match the language spoken in each area. As a result, many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin may be traced back to the root Scharnold.

Famous people with the name Scharnetzki

• Tim Scharnetzki: Television producer and director, best known for his work on the Emmy-winning series Freddy's Nightmares and the TV movie Adventures of the Black Stallion, both of which earned him Directors Guild of America Award nominations.
• Christian Scharnetzki: German professional football player who currently plays for FC Erzgebirge Aue as a midfielder.
• Gilbert Scharnetzki: German opera director and a self-taught computer scientist who has since made considerable contributions to the field of computational geometry.
• Max Scharnetzki: Austrian rower who competed in the 1912 Olympics, and who won the silver medal in the Men’s Eights event.
• Kurt Scharnetzki: Pioneering German cinematographer who had a decades-long film career in the early 20th century, and gained much acclaim for his expressively striking compositions.
• Edgar Scharnetzki: Visiting professor from Germany at Purdue University, where he specializes in nanoscale science and materials.
• Otto Scharnetzki: German mathematician, best known for his research in number theory and differential analytics.
• Wilhelm Scharnetzki: Considered to be one of the “fathers of German film”, Scharnetzki was a key figure in the early days of documentary films. He co-founded the German film production and distribution company Ufa for which he worked until 1933.
• Stefan Scharnetzki: German actor who primarily appears in television shows, including 'Das Erste' and 'ZDF', as well as independent films.

Other surnames

ScharnetzkeScharnetzky