Surname Schirach - Meaning and Origin
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Schirach: What does the surname Schirach mean?
The last name Schirach is of Germanic origin, usually associated with Bavaria and Bavarian Silesia. It is believed to date back to the Middle Ages, when most of the land belonged to the royal Bavarian family. The name itself may be derived from the Old German word schirach, which means "brave defender", probably referring to someone in a position of authority or power.
The Schirach family has been known to be a prominent noble family and its members have held numerous prestigious posts. Some of the most famous members of the family include Baldur von Schirach, a German Nazi leader and one-time leader of the Hitler Youth, and his wife, Henriette Schirach. Both were prominent figures in Nazi Germany, and Baldur was sentenced to 20 years in prison for war crimes.
One of the most famous locations in Bavaria associated with the Schirach family is Schloss Dirach, a castle located near Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region. It is believed to have been built by the Schirach family in the fifteenth century, and is now privately owned by a descendant of the family.
The Schirach family name is still common in Germany, and is still seen as a symbol of nobility and power.
Order DNA origin analysisSchirach: Where does the name Schirach come from?
The last name Schirach is primarily concentrated in Germany today, particularly in the southwestern areas of that country. In the Northwest, it is not particularly concentrated, with only a few individuals bearing the surname. In its historical regions, High and low Franconia, Schirach is more prominent.
The prevalence of the last name Schirach can be traced back to the thirteenth century. In medieval Franconia, which at the time included land stretching from the Rhine in the West to the Czech border in the East, the name was bestowed on families who owned a certain amount of land and had a certain privilege or status within the region. Though the name persisted through the ages, it is no longer as prominent as it once was in the region.
Beyond Germany, Schirach is also a surname found in the United States, Canada, and other countries. The American Schiraches are descendant from a family who emigrated from Germany in the mid 1800s and settled in Philadelphia. The name can also be found in other regions of Europe, most notably in Austria, where Schirach was a prominent figure during the Third Reich.
Overall, the last name Schirach is most common in Germany, particularly in the Franconian regions of High and Low Franconia. It is also found in other areas of Europe and North America, but here it is not as widely seen.
Variations of the surname Schirach
The surname Schirach is derived from the German language, meaning an individual from the city of Schirach. Its variants and alternate spellings can vary depending on the region from which it originated. Generally, the name is spelled as Schirach, Schirrach or Schirrah, but there are also various other spellings such as Schirrach, Shrirach, Shirach, Schirich etc. These alternate spellings are primarily used in the United States and the United Kingdom, where German immigrants settled centuries ago.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, there are a few that may be related to Schirach, such as Schierach, Shiraz, Schirack, Scirich, Scharioch, Shiaroch, Sherach and Schirar. These surnames may have evolved from Schirach, or have been related in other ways that are unknown.
Overall, the surname Schirach is one of German origin, and is often found in the United Sates and the United Kingdom with alternate spellings and variations. Various surnames can be linked to the Schirach surname, but their exact relationship to the original name is unknown.
Famous people with the name Schirach
- Baldur von Schirach: Nazi leader and Hitler Youth organizer during WWII and writer.
- Iris von Schirach: German journalist, author and art expert.
- Hulk von Schirach: Comedian and television presenter.
- Konrad Freiherr von Schirach: Austrian Army officer and field marshal during WWI.
- Helmut Schirach: Austrian philosopher and novelist.
- Felix von Schirach: German jurist who served as a judge of the Federal Constitutional Court from 1979 until 2003.
- Julius Schirach: German actor and cabaret artist.
- Berlin von Schirach: German archaeologist who primarily researched the prehistory of the Mediterranean area.
- Christoph von Schirach: German pianist, composer and conductor.
- Margarethe von Schirach: German singer, actress and wife of Baldur von Schirach.