Surname Schimmelpenning - Meaning and Origin
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Schimmelpenning: What does the surname Schimmelpenning mean?
The last name Schimmelpenning is of German origin, and is believed to be derived from the words "Schimmel" and "Penning". "Schimmel" is a German word meaning "gray horse", and "penning" means "coins". Together, the last name may can be interpreted to mean "Gift of the Gray Horse," signifying a generous contribution.
Throughout Germany and the Netherlands, this surname has remained in use. Records show that it was first seen in the 13th century, when a noble family by the name of Schimmelpenning lived in an area now known as Oldenburg.
The Schimmelpenning name is held by people around the world, mostly in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States. Most people with this name are concentrated in western Germany, particularly in the North Rhine-Westphalia region.
In modern times, the name Schimmelpenning is most often associated with financial success, due to the fact that in medieval Germany, the coin referred to in this split surname was considered to be of high value. Therefore, those with this surname were seen as having been able to give a gift of something of great monetary value.
Order DNA origin analysisSchimmelpenning: Where does the name Schimmelpenning come from?
The last name Schimmelpenning, which derived from the German word “Schimmel” meaning “mold” or “mildew” and “penning” which translates to “coin” or “silver”, is most commonly found in countries with German roots including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands and the United States.
In the United States, Schimmelpenning is a rather rare surname and most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Indiana among others. In Pennsylvania, it is most commonly located in the south-central part of the state and in Iowa, it is spread out throughout the state. In Indiana, it is primarily found in the northeastern region of the state, primarily in and around the cities of Decatur and South Bend.
In Germany, the surname is found in various parts of the country—ranging from the north along the Dutch border to the south near the Black Forest. Austria also has numerous records of this surname, primarily in and around Vienna.
In Belgium, Schimmelpenning is mainly found in the East Flanders region, in the cities of Manage and Oudenaarde and in the Netherlands, it is found primarily in the northern province of Friesland.
Schimmelpenning is by no means a popular name but is found over several countries with roots in Germanic culture. With the popularity of DNA testing, it will be interesting to see if this surname will continue its trend of being small and somewhat spread out over the Germanic countries.
Variations of the surname Schimmelpenning
Schimmelpenning is a Dutch surname, originating in the 16th century when surnames became more standardised in the region. The variants are dependent on the dialect used in various parts of the Netherlands, with some regional variations of the name being spelt Schimmelpennink, Schimmelepinnink and Schimmelpenninck. A more modern spelling uses a double “L” and is spelt Schimmellpenning.
More unusual variations of the spelling include, Schimmelpinning, Schimelpinning, Schimmelping, Schimmelling, and Schimmelpinner. Commonly, the original surname has been altered slightly by marriage and immigration to foreign countries, leading to adapted spellings of Schimelpenning, Schimelpennink, Schimmelpennning, Schimmelpenninc and Schimmelpennick.
The Schimmelpenning surname has numerous variations in spelling due to its regional differences and adoptions over the years, with some being spelt in two or three different ways. As well as these adapted spellings, the surname is also seen used in conjunction with other surnames in the area. Regional spelling variations such as Schimmelpening, Schimmelpants, and Schimmelpennig have all been recorded but the original spelling of Schimmelpenning remains the most common.
All of the variants stem from the original Schimmelpenning name, however, the spelling can vary depending on the region and the time period in which the surname was used. The variants are still linked to the same origin and are all considered to be part of the same surname.
Famous people with the name Schimmelpenning
- Miles Schimmelpenning van der Oije: Dutch footballer
- Gunther Schimmelpenninck: Dutch politician
- Peter Schimmelpenninck van der Oije: Dutch playwright
- Joost Schimmelpenninck van der Oije: Dutch poet
- Dirk Schimmelpenninck van der Oije: Dutch sculptor
- Germ Schimmelpenninck van der Oije: Dutch poet
- Andries Schimmelpennincks: Dutch naval officer
- Christiaan Schimmelpenninck: Dutch theater director
- Jan Paul Schimmelpenninck: Dutch economist
- Arend Schimmelpenninck: Dutch actor