Surname Schelles - Meaning and Origin
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Schelles: What does the surname Schelles mean?
The last name Schelles is of German origin. The literal meaning of the name is “little shell” or “little shield.” It is thought to be derived from a nickname, most likely for a small or short person. Alternately, the name could refer to someone who lived near a body of water, given its association with shells.
Throughout Germany, the first evidence of the Schelles surname dates back to the 1600s when the name appears in chronicles of local parish records. It is more commonly found in the southern regions, such as Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, but also appears in the northern areas of the country like Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and even Berlin to a lesser extent. Outside of Germany, the Schelles surname can also be found in other countries in Europe, the United States, and South America.
The name Schelles has no known coat of arms and the family name is not listed in any known history books or publications. Some professionals, such as small business owners and highly skilled artisans, may have a connection to the name, but there is no solid evidence of any direct lineage.
Today, the name Schelles is most often found in the form of surname and is quite a rare discovery for both local and global research. It can also be seen as the surname of several people in modern times, often in an anglicized form.
Order DNA origin analysisSchelles: Where does the name Schelles come from?
The last name Schelles is most commonly found in Europe today, particularly in Germany and amongst German-speaking populations.
In Germany, Schelles is primarily found in Baden-Württemberg, the third-largest of the 16 German federal states in the south of the country with a population of around 11 million. The Schelles family is, however, not limited to this state, with signs of the surname being found in all of the major cities, as well as throughout the country's numerous rural districts.
Across Europe, Schelles is also found in the surrounding countries of Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France and the Czech Republic in areas with historically large German populations. The surname is seen in lesser numbers in a number of other countries in Northern and Eastern Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada, mostly due to emigration from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Internationally, Schelles is a fairly uncommon name. Despite evidence of the family spreading across Europe and overseas over time, the numbers remain low and most predominantly situated in Central and Western Europe.
Variations of the surname Schelles
The surname Schelles is also known as Schellas, Shelles, Shelas, Shellas and Schalles. It is possible that the last names of Schells, Schels, Shels and Shalls also have the same origin.
The spelling of Schelles is derived from the German word 'Schellen' which means 'to tower', 'to peal' or 'ring'. The surname could denote someone who lived near a bell tower or had a bell marking their residence. It could also reference the action of ringing a bell.
The surname Schellas is a variation of the German word for 'shell' which is 'Schelle'. This could indicate that the person could have lived by a beach or was an expert in shells and shellfish. This, however, is purely speculative.
The surname Shelles could have different origins. It could be derived from the Hebrew last name Schillios, which means 'peaceful'. It could also be based on a variation of the old English word 'schelen' meaning 'to separate'.
Shelas may be a variation of the German name Schales, which means 'shield'. It could also be derived from the Gaelic last name O'Sheal, which translates to 'descendant of Seal'.
Shellas can be traced back to the Hebrew name Shealtiel which means 'I have asked of God'. It also has connections to the Greek last name Scelleos, which translates to 'wooden bowl' or 'wooden vessel'.
The surname Schalles is derived from the German word 'schalle' which means 'boundary'. This is a topographical name for someone who lived near a defining feature such as a hill boundary, a body of water or a forest.
In conclusion, the surname Schelles has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Schellas, Shelles, Shelas, Shellas, Schells, Schels, Shels, Shalls, Schillios, O'Sheal, Shealtiel and Scelleos. Some of the last names also have different meanings and might give us a clue into the origins of the Schelles family.
Famous people with the name Schelles
- George Schelles: actor and producer known for 'Westworld' and 'Saving Private Ryan'.
- Ryan Schelles: actor and recurring cast member on the long-running television series 'Passions'.
- Scott Schelles: actor, best known for his role as 'Reggie' in 'The Sandlot'.
- Michael Schelles: American stock car racing driver who competed in the NASCAR Busch Series from 1986 to 1997.
- Paul Schelles: sports announcer, contributing regularly to the USA Sports Network.
- Josh Schelles: professional baseball player, playing for the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and most recently the Atlanta Braves.
- Anna Schelles: fashion model, appearing in renowned magazines such as 'Vogue', 'InStyle', and 'Harper’s Bazaar'.
- Richard Schelles: famed jazz musician, performing across the United States and Europe in the 1940s and 50s.
- Kenneth Schelles: author and professor, known for his works such as 'Eating Local' and 'The Art of the Home Meal'.
- Irvin Schelles: comedian and actor, featured in TV productions such as 'Martin' and 'My Wife and Kids'.