Surname Scharschmied - Meaning and Origin

Scharschmied: What does the surname Scharschmied mean?

The last name Scharschmied is a German surname originating from the Middle Ages and is derived from the early German word "Scharschmieden" meaning "weaponsmith". It was the occupational name for a trainee or apprentice armorer or a swordsmith who forged swords and armor for members of privileged families. Hence, it is a hereditary name. The Scharschmied’s were an important guild in medieval Germany and they worked in royal courts, at armories, and in their own private workshops.

These weapon smiths were extremely skilled artisans who had obtained their craftsmanship through a long and arduous apprenticeship. They required great strength, remarkable technical skills, physical endurance and creative abilities to create armor and swords. They worked with natural materials such as iron ore, steel, precious metals, and leather to craft weapons that had strength, lightness, and precision. These armorers and swordsmiths prepared armors, shields, helmets, and swords as well as daggers, spears, and short swords. The military elite, merchants, and nobles who owned the weapons and armors crafted by a Scharschmied class of craftsmen were greatly prized for their skills and strength.

Generally, explanations about the meaning of a family surname must come from the family's own personal traditions and are usually held as family secrets passed down from one generation to the next. It is believed that the original Scharschmieden-Smiths settled in Germany around the 11th century. They were well-respected, affluent, and special individuals in their respective countries and hence, their families and last names were preserved over the centuries. Even today, there are many members of the Scharschmied family who refer to themselves as proud descendants of a long line of armorers and swordsmiths who have distinguished themselves and their surname through their hard work and talent.

Scharschmied: Where does the name Scharschmied come from?

The surname Scharschmied is likely most commonly found in the country of Germany, with a concentration of the name in some of the southern and central regions, particularly in Bavaria. The earliest written record of the name can be found in the town of Tübingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, in 1290. The surname is believed to have derived from the old German words "scharte," meaning "notch," and "smid" meaning "smith." Thus, Scharschmied could be translated to mean "notched smith." In modern times, Scharschmied is primarily found in the souther and central regions of Germany, which have seen a notable rise in the prevalence of the surname over the past several hundred years.

In addition to being commonly found in the country of Germany, the surname Scharschmied can also be found in limited numbers in countries that were once part of the Germanic Empire, such as Austria. Additionally, due to the immigration of ethnic Germans to other countries during the 19th and 20th centuries, the surname can be found in present countries such as South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and the United States of America. The US is one of the countries with the highest population of people bearing this surname, as indicated by the US Census Bureau.

Variations of the surname Scharschmied

The surname Scharschmied has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Among the most common variants are Scharchmied, Scharzmied, Scherzmied, Schorschmied, Schorschmiedt and Schorschmid. Variations can also be found in countries with different cultures and languages, such as Scharschmidt, Scharzhmied, Scharzmiedl, Schorschmeidel, Schorschmitt and Schorschmeister.

From German-speaking countries, the surname is typically found in the forms Scharschmied, Scharchmied, Scharzmied and Scherzmied. These variants are usually derived from the ‘Scharshmiede’, which meant a ‘blacksmith’ or ‘armorer’. During medieval times in Germany these trades were common and many people had the surname Scharschmied.

In Central European countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, the surname can be found in the form Schorschmied, Schorschmiedt and Schorschmid. These names have a similar meaning and are derived from the Old High German ‘scorschmied’ which means a ‘hard worker’ or ‘artisan’.

Overall, the surnames Scharschmied, Scharchmied, Scharzmied, Scherzmied, Schorschmied, Schorschmiedt and Schorschmid are all considered to have the same origin and should be considered the same name. Variations can be found in other countries, such as Scharschmidt, Scharzhmied, Scharzmiedl, Schorschmeidel, Schorschmitt and Schorschmeister, although these names were derived from the root name in different ways.

Famous people with the name Scharschmied

• Otto Scharschmied: German documentary filmmaker
• Johann Scharschmied: Austrian painter
• Daniel Scharschmied: a Romani language poet
• Peter Scharschmied: German artist and professor
• Joseph Scharschmied: German early 19th century photographer
• Paul Scharschmied: German painter and sculptor
• Franz Scharschmied: Austrian actor
• Johann Gottlob Scharschmied: German physicist
• Heinz Scharschmied: German economics expert
• Karl Scharschmied: Austrian small-spatial artist
• Johann-Maria Scharschmied: artist, etcher and engraver
• Johann Martin Scharschmied: Austrian engraver
• Reinhold Scharschmied: German painter
• Georg Scharschmied: Austrian entrepreneur and investor
• Heinrich Scharschmied: Austrian composer
• Barbara Scharschmied: German illustrator
• Othmar Scharschmied: Swiss electrical engineer
• Heinrich Scharschmied: Austrian fencer
• Ignaz Scharschmied: German painter
• Renate Scharschmied: Swiss journalist and author

Other surnames

Scharschmidt