Surname Schellscheidt - Meaning and Origin

Schellscheidt: What does the surname Schellscheidt mean?

The last name Schellscheidt is of German origin. It is derived from the Dutch term 'shellen', which meant "a potter" or "a maker of earthenware" and the German word 'Scheidt', which means "separate" or "divide". It was likely used as an occupational surname for someone who made ceramic goods.

The family tradition says that the first Schellscheidt ancestor, named Hans, lived in the Palatinate area along the Rhine in Germany. From here, the Schellscheidts spread in different directions. Some went to Prussia, while others online disappeared from the known records.

The English version of the last name is "Shellscheidt". The Schellscheidt crest is a red shield with a blue chevron dividing it in half. Atop the chevron is a black crowned lion stepping forward with a curved tail that reaches down to the center of the shield. This suggests that the family is from an ancient Germanic tribe.

The Schellscheidt's are a proud family that has maintained a sense of loyalty and solidarity for centuries. Over time, the name has been altered slightly, but its origin can still be found in their coat of arms and the fact that a potter was a respected occupation in times gone by. It is this respect for their predecessors that gives the Schellscheidt family a strong sense of identity and a unique place in history.

Schellscheidt: Where does the name Schellscheidt come from?

The last name Schellscheidt is a quite uncommon surname that is almost exclusively concentrated around the area of Northwest Germany and the Netherlands. It is most common in the states of Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, as well as the provinces of Limburg and Gelderland in the Netherlands.

According to genealogical records, it is believed to have originated in what is now western Germany, right along the border with the Netherlands around the 16th and 17th centuries. Most records point to the town of Schellscheidt in the province of Limburg, Netherlands as its origin. It appears that the family settled in this area and eventually spread out and established themselves in other parts of Germany over time.

The Schellscheidt name is still quite common in areas of Northwest Germany and the Netherlands. For example, a quick search on the internet reveals that there a number of people with the surname living in cities such as Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, and Leverkusen in Germany, as well as Venlo and Roermond in the Netherlands.

The Schellscheidt name does not appear to have spread much beyond the areas of Northwest Germany and the Netherlands. However, with the modernization of the world, there are likely family members who have relocated to other places around the world over time, with occasional reports of people with the name popping up in places such as the United States, Canada, England, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Schellscheidt

The surname Schellscheidt has many variants and spellings, as well as other surnames with the same origin, throughout Europe. In German speaking countries, this surname is often spelled as Schellschmidt or Schellschmitz. In English, it is also known as Shellshock, Shelshock, Schelt, Shellard, Shellman, Shellam, and Shelly. In other Germanic countries, the spelling could vary from Schellschmidt to Shelscmidt to Schultescheidt.

In Italy, this surname is found as Schellscheid or Schellett. In France, it can also be found as Shellard or Shellé, and in Portugal as Schelt or Schelts. In Sweden, variant spellings include Skallskog, Shedlitz, and Sellberg, and in Netherlands as Shellag or Schefferscheidt.

Other surnames with the same origin and spelling could include Schilte, Schillte, Schillt, Shelt, Shellte, Sellte, Sheltohm, Schiltem, Shillt, Shilm, Shellom, Sheltam, and Shelham.

Originally, this surname was used as a nickname for someone who worked in the foundry or forge. Derived from the old German words “schell” for sound and “scheit” for shield, the surname translates to “one who forged shields” in modern German.

Famous people with the name Schellscheidt

• Karlheinz Schellscheidt: Professional soccer coach who served as head coach for the U.S. national team
• Rudi Schellscheidt: German soccer player and coach who was a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group
• Gisella Schellscheidt: Austrian filmmaker and artist
• Wolfgang Schellscheidt: Austrian chemist and professor of physical chemistry at the University of Vienna
• Hans Schellscheidt: Former German football player and manager of the German Olympic team
• Wilbur Schellscheidt: American artist, writer, and publisher
• Ulli Schellscheidt: German television presenter
• Josef Schellscheidt: Austrian sculptor and painter
• Johann Schellscheidt: German painter and sculptor
• Elisabeth Schellscheidt: Austrian playwright, dramatist, and theater director

Other surnames

Schellscheid