Surname Schein - Meaning and Origin
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Schein: What does the surname Schein mean?
The last name SCHEIN has a few different meanings and origins. One of the most common is that it comes from the words "shein," which is a Yiddish term for "beautiful." This could indicate that the ancestors of those who bear the name SCHEIN were likely of Jewish descent. It is also possible, however, that it comes from Old German and translates to "shining," indicating a symbolic connection with light or hope.
The surname SCHEIN is most prominent in Germany, but it can be seen throughout Europe, as well as in North and South America. It is also relatively common in the United States, with the most densely populated state being New York.
For those who bear the last name SCHEIN, it could represent a strong sense of identity and their Jewish heritage. For others, it might conjure up a sense of optimism and the possibility of a brighter future.
Order DNA origin analysisSchein: Where does the name Schein come from?
The last name Schein is most commonly found in the United States and Germany. In the United States, Pennsylvania is the state with the most Schein families (35.5% of the total as of 2010). New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Florida, and California are the other states that round out the top six states with the most Schein families living there.
In Germany, the last name is most popular in the region of former East Germany. According to the German surname dictionary, the name Schien is first found in Saxony and Prussia between 1450 and 1650. During this time there were some different spellings, including Zchien, but also some variant spellings that began to appear in the 1600s, such as Schöne, Schehen and Schein.
The Schein family can be traced back to Saxon traders from the Adelebsen region in Germany and the Palatinate region in France in the early 15th century. Other branches of the family were found in Holland, Switzerland, Hungary, and Poland.
Additionally, Schein is also a popular last name among Jewish families, having existed in Germany since the mid-1800s. Notably, two German-Jewish Schein brothers were recently found to be identical twins separated at birth in a pre-war Nazi Germany adoption study, now known as the Schein Twins Study.
It is also not uncommon to find the last name Schein in Southern Europe among countries such as Italy and Spain.
Overall, the Schein family name is common today in many regions throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Schein
The surname Schein has a few variant spellings and surnames with the same origin. These variants originate from different languages and countries.
The most common variant is Schein or Schien, which is either a form of the germanic personal name Schein or Schin, originating from schien meaning “shiny”. It is a common Jewish surname as well with similar meanings.
In Yiddish, the surname can be written as Shein, Shain, Shaine, Sheine, Schein and Shain. It is also found in other European countries like Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania etc.
In Poland, it can be found as Szajn, Szajner, Szajmacher, Szajnoch or Szajnowicz. In Russia, it can be spelled as Shagin or Shchagin, and in Hungary it can be found as Schajn, Schainch, Szajn, Szajnkowsky or Gyszajn.
In English speaking countries, the surname can be seen as Shine, Sheene, Sheen, Shan or Shone. In Irish and Scottish countries, it is usually seen as a combination of MacSheine, McShane, MacShan, MacKeown and McHugh.
In France, the surname is usually seen as Cham or Chaminade. It is also found in Italy as Sciam, Scham and Sciamarelli and in Germany as Schaink, Schajk, Schain, Schaim, Schake, Schames and Schminke etc.
In Holland, it is spelled Schijf, Schijff and Scheijf and in Indonesia it usually takes on the form of Scham.
The surname Schein can also be found in Romania as Schain or Schijn, in Hungary as Schajn, and in Slovakia as Schain.
Famous people with the name Schein
- Henry Schein: global healthcare company executive, founded a charity organization.
- Manny Schein: South African political activist and academic, writer, and newspaper columnist.
- Rebecca Schein: American actress and producer.
- Marvin Schein: American attorney, financier, and philanthropist.
- Martin Schein: 20th century American philosopher and ethnomusicologist.
- Ellyn Schein: American artist and sculptor.
- Jeffrey Schein: American businessman and philanthropist.
- Howard Schein: Canadian academic, author, and educational reformer.
- Elisabeth Schein: German artist, landscape and portrait painter.
- Max Schein: American art collector and philanthropist.
- Lou Schein: American athlete and baseball player.
- Richard Schein: American actor, director, and playwright.
- Alfred Schein: South African dermatologist and academic.
- Laura Schein: American champion speedskater and coach.
- Joshua Schein: American philosopher and author.
- Paul Schein: American-German actor, composer, and conductor.
- Joshua Scheinberg: American sculptor, photographer, and installation artist.
- Charles Schein: American physicist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Lawrence B. Schein: American aerospace research scientist and professor at the California Institute of Technology.
- Clifford Schein: Canadian neuroscientist and professor at the University of Manitoba.