Surname Scheidter - Meaning and Origin
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Scheidter: What does the surname Scheidter mean?
The last name Scheidter is of Germanic origin and is derived from the German word “scheiden” meaning “to divide” or “separate”. The name was likely first used to describe someone who was often dividing land or deciding boundaries between properties. Over time, the name could have been used to describe a surveyor, a custom inspector, or a negotiator who worked in settling disputes between people or families.
Scheidter is a rare surname, with the highest concentration of people with this name found in Germany and Poland. It is also found in smaller numbers across Europe, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Holland, and Switzerland. In the United States, the name is not common, but the largest population of Scheidters is located in Wisconsin.
The Scheidter family likely has a long and varied history, and today over time, the Scheidter name has evolved to become synonymous with intelligence, inventiveness, and determination. Members of the Scheidter family have become notable scientists, businessmen, and entrepreneurs in the modern world.
Overall, the last name Scheidter is a reflection of the dedication of the Scheidter family to serve their communities and to make improvements in the world around them.
Order DNA origin analysisScheidter: Where does the name Scheidter come from?
The last name Scheidter is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking nations. It is estimated to be held by around 18,000 people, primarily based in the northern part of the country. The name is derived from the German word for shield (schied) combined with the suffix -er, which denotes someone from or associated with the place or origin.
In modern times, the Scheidter surname is widespread across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the west German region of Westphalia. It is also quite popular in the northern part of the Netherlands, due to the proximity of historical German-speaking regions in that area. Due to migratory reasons, this surname has also spread to the Americas, particularly the United States, Australia, and various parts of Europe.
In the U.S., Scheidter is notably widespread in the state of Pennsylvania. It is also present in other eastern coastal towns, especially those with German heritage. In Pennsylvania, the majority of the original Scheidter settlers emigrated from the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany around the mid-1800s, in order to find a better economic situation. Today, the Scheidters from this area mostly work in farming, education, business, and other industries.
Overall, the Scheidter surname is a unique and popular German surname that has spread to many parts of the world due to historical migrations. It can be found in the state of Pennsylvania in the U.S., as well as in various German-speaking nations, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Scheidter
The surname Scheidter (also spelled Scheidt, Scheid, Scheiter, Scheit, Scheitera, Sheiter, Scheiterer, Sheids, Scheids, and Scheidauer) is of Germanic origin, and is derived from the Middle High German word "Schidere", meaning a textile worker or cutter. The early bearers of this profession had the name Scheidterer or Schiderer, later shortened to Scheidter.
The surname is first documented in 1231 where it appears as "Scheidtre" in the records of the monastery of Eller in Germany. The 13th century Saxon settlement records also show several Scheidter families including Henricus Scheidtre from Verden in 1262 and Johannes Scheidtre from Waltrop in 1285. During the 16th century, the Scheidter surname spread to multiple parts of Germany including Odenwald, Palatinate, Schwabisch Hall, and other Northern regions.
The Scheidters also had branches in Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and even present-day Poland. Today, there is a substantial community of Scheidter descendants found mainly in Germany but also across Europe and the United States. As migration and globalization brought more people from different parts of the world together, certain variants of the Scheidter surname had come into use. In the Netherlands, this branch of the family is mostly known by its Dutch spelling "Scheidt". Similarly, some descendants of the Scheidters living in Switzerland spell their surname as "Scheiter”. The Scheidters are known for their strong work ethic, dedication, and loyalty which made them distinguished members of their respective communities.
Famous people with the name Scheidter
- Klaus Scheidter: a German physicist; professor emeritus of Freie Universität Berlin and former director of the Institute of Applied Physics of the same university
- Karl Scheidter: an Austrian art historian and professor; founder of the "Bauhaus Archiv" at the Berlin University of the Arts
- Günther Scheidter: a German classical philologist; a professor at the University of Tübingen
- M. D. Scheidter: an American otolaryngologist and professor
- Tobias Scheidter: a German professor of computer science; currently Professor of Computer Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen
- Andreas Scheidter: an Austrian physicist; professor at the University of Vienna and also the chair of the Institute of Theoretical Physics
- Hans Wilhelm Scheidter: a German physicist; member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin
- Marcus Scheidter: a German physicist and professor; co-founder and head of the Department of Physics at the University of Potsdam
- Bogodan Scheidter: a Bulgarian philosopher; professor in the departments of philosophy and pedagogy at Sofia University
- Alfons Scheidter: a German ceramicist and professor; a professor at the Staatliche Akademie der bildenden Künste in Stuttgart