Surname Schellhaas - Meaning and Origin
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Schellhaas: What does the surname Schellhaas mean?
The last name Schellhaas is derived from German. It is a combination of two element words 'Schell' and 'Haas', meaning 'bell' and 'hare' respectively. Combined together the two words create a metaphorical meaning of 'a bell ringing hare'.
In the Middle Ages, bells were seen as a way to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. Hares, on the other hand, represent speed, agility and cunning. It is believed that having a good knowledge of things that go on nationally and locally, both in the natural and the spiritual world, was seen as a desirable trait at the time. Thus, the name Schellhaas carried connotations of a person who is clever and alert to their surroundings.
In addition to denoting wisdom, the name Schellhaas is thought to signify good fortune. A hare is a creature of the moon, a sign of good luck, and a ring of a bell emit a beautiful sound signifying something favorable is happening.
Over time, Schellhaas has also come to mean to 'hear well' or 'listen' in German. This could be in reference to the natural agility of a hare, or just simply paying attention to your surroundings.
Today, those with the last name Schellhaas are proud to carry a name that has been permeated with such positive energies for hundreds of years. The name now stands to represent strength, intelligence, and strong intuition.
Order DNA origin analysisSchellhaas: Where does the name Schellhaas come from?
The last name Schellhaas is most common today in Germany and central Europe, particularly in the historical Prussian states of Brandenburg, Pomerania, and East Prussia. According to genealogical records, the name is an occupational name derived from the German word 'schäl', meaning 'shell' or 'husk'. It is likely that the name first originated among merchants, millers, or butchers who worked with husking or shelling grains, beans, or meats.
The first known recorded use of the name was in the year 1298, when Konrad Schelehusen was mentioned as an unpaid rent collector from the Bohemian city of Regenwalde. From there, the surname spread throughout Europe and across the Atlantic, where it can now be found particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.
The largest concentrations of Schellhaas first and second generation immigrants in the U.S. are located in states with large ethnic German populations, primarily Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Iowa. Other large numbers can be found in the military and in large cities like New York and Chicago. There are also still some Schellhaas immigrants living in the original German Prussian states.
Variations of the surname Schellhaas
Schellhaas is a German surname, which is spelled in several different ways in various countries. The most common alternative spellings used for Schellhaas include Schellhaus, Schelhaas, Schellhase, Schelhase, Shellhase, and Shelhase.
Other variants of the surname include Shellhaus, Shellaas, Shellas, Shellhas, Schellheis, Shellhausen, Shellhaese, Shellhause, Schelhause, Schellhausen, Schellhause, Schellhause, Shellhause, Shelhausen, Shellhosen, and Shellhaas.
Schellhaas is derived from the Middle High German words schil—meaning ‘shield’—and haus—meaning ‘house’. Therefore, the original meaning of the name is ‘shield house’ which symbolised a family’s defensive stronghold, as well as integrity and protection. Consequently, the surname is found throughout Germany and similar German-speaking countries.
Schellhaas is also an Americanized variation of the similar sounding Austrian surname Schellhous. Schellhous is typically found in Austria and is derived from the Old German words Skilhosa meaning ‘shield’ and hus meaning ‘house’.
In addition to the different spellings and variants of Schellhaas, the surname has been anglicized and adapted in several countries over time. In England for example, there exists the surname Shellhouse, in Scotland the surname Schelhause is found, and in the Netherlands the family name Shelhose.
Tracing the surname as far back as the mid-1500s, we find records of the Schellhaas family, hailing from the Bavarian region of Germany and are now spread across many countries, with the biggest population living in America, Germany, England, The Netherlands, and Scotland.
Famous people with the name Schellhaas
- Magdalene Schellhaas: German actress
- Scott Schellhaas: American college football coach
- Edward Bartholomew Schellhaas: American aquatic scientist
- Bram Schellhaas: Dutch politician
- Ryan Schellhaas: American professional baseball pitcher
- Christian Schellhaas: German forest ecologist
- Denis Schellhaas: German footballer
- Johann Casper Schellhaas: German inventor and piano maker
- Johannes Schellhaas: German master carpenter and innovator
- Joseph Schellhaas: American artist and art collector