Surname Scheitel - Meaning and Origin
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Scheitel: What does the surname Scheitel mean?
The last name Scheitel is an occupational German surname derived from the word ‘scheitel’, which means ‘part’ or ‘divide’. The surname likely originated from someone who either divided or “parted” things for a living. For example, a Scheitel was likely a cloth-cutter, a tailor, a cutler, or a furrier.
The name could also be derived from the Middle Low German word ‘sceitel’, which refers to someone’s crown or the center part of their hair. That would suggest that Scheitel was originally a hairstylist or barber.
Over time, people with the Scheitel surname embraced different professions. They spread throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and were prominent in many regions in the Middle Ages.
Many of the people who adopted the Scheitel surname were tradesman, farmers, or members of the working class. Today, the Scheitel surname is quite common in Germany, but it’s also found in parts of the United States and Canada.
Regardless of the Scheitel surname’s land of origin, it is undoubtedly a testament to the hardworking people of yesteryear who divided and parted the things that allowed them to make money and build a life for their families.
Order DNA origin analysisScheitel: Where does the name Scheitel come from?
The last name Scheitel is an uncommon last name today, but you can find it predominantly in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It is believed to come from the German term 'scheiteln', which describes the act of cutting the front section of hair in a straight line from the forehead to the nape of the neck. This was typically done by barbers during the Medieval period and has been passed down through the years as a lasting tradition.
The surname also appears in many former German-speaking areas, such as Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine. It’s likely these families moved during the 19th-century mass migrations of people across Europe.
Today, the surname Scheitel is carried by multiple generations in Germany. It is also held by those who have immigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world. The records show the surname is held by more than 8000 people throughout the world, with the majority located in Germany.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Scheitel surname, you can look up the various genealogy websites. Here, you can search for the name and find background information to help you research your own heritage. It’s also a great way to discover relatives, both living and deceased, who carry the same surname.
Variations of the surname Scheitel
The surname Scheitel comes from the German word for “crown” or “top of the head”. There are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin stemming from this word. Some of these include: Scheitl, Schitl, Schytl, Schyttel, Sheitel, Shaytl, Shytl, Schitler, Sheitler, Sheytel, Shinell, Sciattlin, Schattlin, Shettel, Schettl, Shedl, and Schyddl.
The Scheitel surname is most commonly found in Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. It is believed to have derived from Middle High German scitell or schitell which are believed to be related to the Old High German word seida meaning “crown”. In the medieval time of feudal lords, the Scheitel surname would have been given to those who had royal status.
In the United States, the Scheitel name is also sometimes seen spelled as Shadle, Shedle, or even Chowdhury. The Shadle surname is thought to have come from Schweidel which is a variation on the Scheitel surname. The Shedle surname is assumed to originate from Scheitel, and the Chowdhury is likely related to the Scheitel surname due to the Germanic influences in India.
The Scheitel surname has remained relatively popular over the centuries and can still be found today in many countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Scheitel
- Matthias Scheitel: German professional footballer
- Wolfgang Scheitel: Austrian mountaineer, alpinist, and journalist
- Maurizio Scheitel: Italian actor, director, writer and educator
- Richard Scheitel: Austrian actor, writer and director
- Johanna Scheitel: German physicist and astrophysicist
- Jakob Scheitel: Austrian physician and naturalist
- Johann Scheitel: German philosopher and theologian
- Günther Scheitel: German sculptor, third generation of the Scheitel family
- Anton Scheitel: Austrian architect and urban planner
- Rudolf Scheitel: German author and translator