Surname Schelhaas - Meaning and Origin
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Schelhaas: What does the surname Schelhaas mean?
The last name Schelhaas is an occupational surname originating from German, Dutch, and Flemish regions. The word can be broken down into two parts, "Schel" and "Haas", and is believed to have come from a job position of a styler or someone who prepared the fur of rabbits or hares. In the early days of trading, the hides and furs of wild hares were collected, treated, and then sold at a much higher value than the animal itself. The English version of the name is thought to be Selhose or Selhouse, meaning “houser of skins.”
The use of this surname dates back to the late 16th century in the small towns and villages of Germany, Netherlands, and Flanders. It originally was a marker of occupation, indicating that the bearer was of a lower socio-economic class but as time went on it simply identified a person with the same last name. This surname has also been seen in the United States, mainly in areas with large numbers of German immigrants such as Wisconsin and some other Midwest states.
Today, the name Schelhaas is most commonly seen in Germany and the United States with concentrations in both countries being greatest in the Midwest, especially in Wisconsin and Iowa. The name can also be seen throughout other countries as a result of migration. The name Schelhaas continues to be a prominent family name that has been carried through generations up to the present day.
Order DNA origin analysisSchelhaas: Where does the name Schelhaas come from?
The last name Schelhaas is of Dutch origin and is still most commonly found in the Netherlands today. According to the 2020 Netherlands Census, it is the 436th most popular last name in the country with an estimated 1,013 people having it as their surname. The majority of people with the name live in the northern provinces of the Netherlands such as Friesland and Groningen, although there are some sizeable populations in other regions such as North Holland and Zeeland.
Outside the Netherlands, Schelhaas is also found in countries that had strong Dutch immigration such as South Africa, Australia, Canada and the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of the 2010 census, there were 859 people with the surname living in the United States. Most of these live in the states of California, Florida and New York, which have traditionally had large Dutch immigrant populations.
As Schelhaas is an uncommon surname, there are few other locations where it is typically found. It is possible that there are small communities of individuals with the last name in countries such as Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom, mainly due to recent immigration from the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Schelhaas
The surname Schelhaas is of German origin and is believed to originate from one of two German words: “schele” which means “skillful”, or “schill” which means “sharp”. Alternate spellings and variants of the surname include Schellaas, Schellas, Schelas, Schillhaas, Schillaas, Schillas, and Schillhaus.
In the early 1800s, the surname was found mainly in Prussia, but today the surname is found, albeit rarely, throughout Europe. In some countries, it has seen a decline in usage, such as in Germany, where it has experienced a continuous decrease in prevalence.
The surname has also spread to other countries, including the United States, where it has been found in places like Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The spelling is often changed to Scelehaus in the US in order to make it easier for Americans to pronounce.
In the Netherlands, the surname can also be found, most commonly spelled as Schellaas. Variants of this spelling can be found in other countries, such as Lithuania, where it is spelled Schylahas, and France, where it is spelled Schillaas.
In Germany, the surname is also found alongside variants which add the -bach or -back suffix to the end. This suggests that at one time, the person may have lived near or in a brook. Examples of these spellings include Schelbach, Schillaasbach, and Schellaasback.
Overall, the surname of Schelhaas is found throughout Europe, in both its original form and various other variants. It is rare, but still survives in various forms throughout the continent.
Famous people with the name Schelhaas
- Rijk Schelhaas: Dutch painter
- Herman Schelhaas: Dutch architect
- Nel Schelhaas: Dutch Olympian field hockey player
- Maarten Schelhaas: Dutch jazz guitarist
- Marlies Schelhaas: Dutch curler
- Ashley Schelhaas: Canadian triathlete
- Jan Schelhaas: former British keyboardist, composer and record producer
- Rien Sonneveld: Dutch footballer better known by his middle name, Schelhaas
- Pieter Schelhaas: Dutch politician
- Gerard Schelhaas: Dutch footballer