Surname Schierz - Meaning and Origin
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Schierz: What does the surname Schierz mean?
Schierz is a German last name that comes from the old German word “schier”, which means "golden corn", and the term “z” which translates to "at" in English. It is a locative name as it communicates a geographical location. The name is likely derived from a place where wheat or other grains were produced and was adopted by many people living in the same area.
Over the years, the name has been used in various forms, including “Schierzen”, “Shierez”, “Schirz” and “Scherez”. It is likely that these variants refer to people from different areas associated with this original name.
Today, the surname Schierz is found throughout Germany as well as in some parts of the United States and Canada. Those with the surname can trace their root back to the farmers, merchants, and tradesmen who adopted it many years ago. Although the details might have been lost in the passing of time, many people still carry the name with pride, honoring their rich family history.
Order DNA origin analysisSchierz: Where does the name Schierz come from?
The name Schierz is most noticeably prominent in German-speaking areas, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and small portions of France, Belgium, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
The name “Schierz” is considered a variation of the German name “Schiertz” and is derived from a noun meaning “protection” or “shield”. It is believed to have originated in the late medieval period as a surname for people who worked as shield or protective makers or bearers.
The name is relatively common in western and southern Germany, as well as Austria and Switzerland, where it ranks among the 50 most frequently found surnames. It is less common in the other parts of Europe listed above, but still appears in the population in significant numbers.
In the US, the Schierz migration dates back to the mid-1800s, when large numbers of German immigrants first started arriving. Today, the Schierz surname is prominent across the nation, especially in New York, Pennsylvania, California, and Texas. As of 2020, it is estimated that the number of Schierz households in the US is around 1,500.
However, the name Schierz is now found far beyond its original German-speaking home. The powerful waves of emigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries means that the name can now be found in places such as South Africa, Australia, Britain and Canada, among many others.
Variations of the surname Schierz
The surname Schierz is an old German name of both nobility and prominent burghers in the states of Bavaria, Saxony and the Rhineland. The variants or spellings of the name vary by origin. In Germany, Schierz is spelled in the form of Schierz, Schierzs, Scheers, Schiers, Schiersch, Schierzche, Schirz and Schürz. In America, the names have been Anglicised to Schertz and Scherz.
In Bavaria, families of Schierz date back to the Golden Age, where their presence in the state was first documented. A DAVID SCHIERZ was mentioned in 1650 as an "ausgestellter Hexenrichter", a witch judge, tasked with judgement on witches. In Saxony, Adam Schiers was listed as a rich land owner in 1738.
The surnames of Schierz have also spread across the continent in many countries. In Switzerland, Schiers families can be found in Basel, Bern and Zurich. In Austria, the surname of Schiers is found primarily in the Upper Austria region.
In Russia, Schiers families were to be found in the Crimea region during the late 19th century, with Surnames resilting from Schiers including Susinsky, Schursinsky, Schiewersky, Schirsky and Schursky.
In the United States, the surname of Schierz is changed to the more American-sounding term of Schertz. The Schertz families were to be found mainly in Texas and in California during the 1870s to the 1910s.
In South Africa, the Schiers family had a branch in Cape Town.
The surname of Schierz has many variants and spellings arising from its German origins, spreading confidently across Europe, Russia and the United States of America. It is an honoured name of nobility, power and prestige through the centuries.
Famous people with the name Schierz
- Armin Schierz: former German football player
- Carlos Schierz: Brazilian footballer
- Chris Schierz: German javelin thrower
- Claas Schierz: German mathematician
- Dave Schierz: American soccer player
- Erwin Schierz: Austrian football player
- Gail Schierz: American singer, songwriter and producer
- Gunnar Schierz: German engineer
- Harald Schierz: Austrian engineer
- Herbert Schierz: German historian
- Jens Schierz: German biophysicist
- Jo Schierz– American football player
- Maria Schierz– German actress
- Paul Schierz– German engineer and physicist
- Robert Schierz– German football player
- Sabine Schierz– German author
- Sven Schierz: German discus athlete
- Theodor Schierz: German chemist and photographer
- Uwe Schierz: German swimmer
- Wilfried Schierz: Austrian football player