Surname Schimmelfenning - Meaning and Origin

Schimmelfenning: What does the surname Schimmelfenning mean?

The last name Schimmelfenning is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word “schimel” and the Old Low German word “fenning”, meaning “fawn” and “son of”, respectively. Together, the last name roughly translates to “son of a fawn”.

Schimmelfenning is an uncommon last name, as is the case with most German surnames. It is found predominately in southwestern Germany, especially in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saarland.

Schimmelfennings have held various occupations in the past. Some have been farmers, cabinet makers and bakers, while others have gone into professions such as teaching and civil service.

The earliest known ancestor of the Schimmelfennings was a 14th-century German nobleman named de Schimmelfenning, who had lands in the German region of Franconia and was the progenitor of the family. Later Schimmelfennings migrated to the United States, mostly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Overall, the last name Schimmelfenning has a long history, with many branches of the family tree having branched off in different directions. From medieval German noblemen to modern-day shopkeepers and civil servants, the Schimmelfennings of today are a testament to the inheritability and adaptability of family names.

Schimmelfenning: Where does the name Schimmelfenning come from?

The surname Schimmelfenning is most commonly found today across the German-speaking countries of Europe, such as Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. This is most likely due to the origin of the name, which is derived from a very old form of German known as Middle High German.

In its oldest recorded form, the name Schimmelfenning can be found recorded in several parts of Germany, dating back to as early as the 14th century. The earliest known records of the name are found in the region of Bavaria, formerly a part of the Holy Roman Empire. The name has since spread throughout the whole of Germany and other parts of Europe, as a result of migration and intermarriage between families.

Today, you can find the name “Schimmelfenning” in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It is still quite rare, however, and may only appear every so often in certain areas. In many places, the surname has derived into local variations, such as “Schimmelfennig” or “Schimmerfennig.”

Due to the diverse history of Germany and surrounding countries, the Schimmelfenning family is probably quite large and extensive, although records of many of its members have been lost over the years. Despite its rareness, the Schimmelfenning name lives on.

Variations of the surname Schimmelfenning

The most common variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the German surname Schimmelfenning include Schimmelfennig, Schimmelfennigk, Schimmelfennigke, and Schimmelfennigkeit. Other less common spellings have been recorded over the centuries, such as Schimmelfenyng, Schimelfenigh, Schimelfennig, and Schimelfenning. Like many German surnames, Schimmelfenning is often encountered in the form of a patronymic, with the prefix “von” being used to denote either nobility or a rural region from which the family originated.

The addition of prefixes isn’t always present, so several related surname variants arise when a person with the same ancestral line decided not to use the “von” prefix. In this case, some examples of the alternate forms of the Schimmelfenning surname are Schimmel, Schimelf, Schimel, and Schimelling.

The surname Schimmelfenning continues to be found today mainly in contemporary Germany, though it has spread to parts of Switzerland and other countries where so-called “Gastarbeiterfamilien”, and their descendants, have resettled. In countries such as Canada and the United States, it can sometimes take the form of “Schimmelfennig”, likely due to German immigrants’ attempts to Anglicize the name in order to better integrate into the surrounding communities.

Famous people with the name Schimmelfenning

• Wolfgang Schimmelfenning: a German sociologist, historian and political scientist.
• Reiner Schimmelfenning: a German engineer and former CEO of Softwerkskammer Berlin.
• Margarete von Schimmelfenning: a German chemist and mineralogist.
• George Schimmelfenning: an American theologian, philosopher and author.
• Porfirio Schimmelfenning: a Spanish professional footballer.
• Chris Schimmelfenning: a South African cricketer.
• Mati Schimmelfenning: an Estonian author.
• Richard Schimmelfenning: an American sports coach.
• Ruth Schimmelfenning: an American actress.
• Dierk Schimmelfenning: a German lawyer and economic advisor.
• Friedrich Schimmelfenning: a German scriptwriter.
• Hans Schimmelfenning: a Norwegian diplomat and politician.
• Kah Schimmelfenning: an Indonesian voice actress.
• Marie Schimmelfenning: a French journalist and novelist.
• Paul Schimmelfenning: a German actor and painter.

Other surnames

Schimmelfennig