Surname Schellberger - Meaning and Origin

Schellberger: What does the surname Schellberger mean?

Schellberger is a German surname, typically found in Southern Germany and Austria. The name is derived from the Old German word "Schellen," meaning "bell." As such, the surname's literal translation is "Bellmaker" or "Bellringer."

In German history, bellringers typically worked as public announcers and messengers, calling out announcements to passersby in the streets. This ancient job was essential for public safety and was even mentioned in the Middle Ages as a cherished tradition.

A coat of arms with the name Schellberger is also associated with the name. This coat of arms features three black bells on a silver background with a red border. It is unknown when this symbol was adopted but it considerably older than the family name.

Schellberger is still common today, retaining its classic German roots. There are many modern examples of the name, primarily scattered throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Since the Middle Ages, the name has been associated with merchants, market traders and merchants, occupations which have a long tradition in German society. Consequently, the name Schellberger continues to evoke a strong sense of German patriotism and history.

Schellberger: Where does the name Schellberger come from?

The last name Schellberger is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. In Germany, it is mainly concentrated in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with the highest population of the surname being recorded in 2006 in the state of Bavaria with 8,904 people sharing the surname. In Austria, it is mainly concentrated in the states of Tyrol and Lower Austria, with the surname being among the 107 most common surnames in the country according to the 2008 telephone directory. In Switzerland, it is most common in the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Bern.

In the United States, the last name Schellberger is most commonly found in Midwestern states such as Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Schellberger is the 28,064th most common last name in the US and the most common variant spelling is Shellabarger. New York, California and Illinois also have statistically significant numbers of individuals with the last name Schellberger.

Although Schellberger is mainly concentrated in these areas, people with the surname are found in almost every country around the world. Immigration and emigration have caused the last name to spread to many different places, so it is possible to find people with the last name Schellberger almost anywhere.

Variations of the surname Schellberger

Schellberger is an uncommon German surname which has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames stemming from the same origin. The most common variants, spellings and surnames of Schellberger are Schallberger, Schalberger, Schelberger, Schwebler and Schebler.

The surname Schallberger originated from the Middle High German word schalb Meaning ‘protector' or ‘guard'. This surname is likely to have initially been given to people who were employed as guards, watchmen, or some other form of protection.

The spelling of Schalberger derives from the older, original form of Schallberger. It is a variant of the name, although not as common as its predecessor. Schalberger is more commonly seen in Swiss and Austrian regions.

Schelberger is the most common spelling variant of Schellberger, and is most often found in the United States. This spelling variant is more commonly used than the other variants, and is found in multiple regions outside of Germany.

The surname Schwebler is derived from a word meaning ‘to weave’ in Middle High German. This surname is likely to have been initially given to people involved in weaving or textiles.

The surname Schebler is derived from the Middle High German word schebellen meaning ‘to clatter’. This surname is likely to have been initially given to people who were noisy or made a lot of clattering.

Overall, there are multiple variants, spellings and surnames that stem from the same origin as Schellberger. Each variant is likely to have been originally created in order to serve as a descriptor for a distinctive trait or characteristic.

Famous people with the name Schellberger

• Sascha Schellenberg: German music producer and audio engineer.
• Colin Schellberger: Canadian-American professional ice hockey player.
• Maureen Schellberger: Canadian politician, wife of former Ontario premier Bob Rae.
• Mike Schellberger: former American professional baseball player.
• Mark Schellberger: Canadian professional volleyball player.
• Remo Schellberger: Swiss former Nordic combined skier.
• Cletus Schellberg: Swiss-American inventor and entrepreneur.
• Konrad Schellberger: Austrian soprano and violinist.
• Kurt Schellberger: West German luger and sports coach.
• Manfred Schellberger: West German luger and race car driver.
• Bastiaan Schellenberg: Dutch radio and television presenter.
• Bart Schellenberg: Canadian cross-country skier.
• Albert Schellenberg: Canadian inspector of mines and a political figure.
• Brigitte Schellenberg: German politician of the Christian Democratic Union.
• Jean-Pierre Schellenberg: Swiss politician and former Leader of the Alliance of the Independents.
• Olaf Schellenberg: German voiceover actor.
• George Schellenberg: Canadian-American artist, illustrator and lithographer.
• André Schellenberg: German artistic director and director.
• Wilma Schellenberg: Canadian politician.
• Max Schellenberg: Swiss runner.

Other surnames

Schellberg