Surname Schirrmacher - Meaning and Origin
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Schirrmacher: What does the surname Schirrmacher mean?
The last name Schirrmacher is of German-origin and is derived from the full German surname Schirrmacher. The literal translation of Schirrmacher is 'shield maker or armorer,' indicating someone who craft shields or armor for a living. This name is most commonly seen in the upper Rhineland region of Germany, and is derived from the Middle High German word 'schirmekere.'
The origin of this name can be traced back to medieval Germany when the use of armor was commonplace. Families with this surname were likely craftsmen and armorers who worked in creating armor and shields and made a living from these services. As such, this name often symbolizes the idea of strength and protection, as someone who is a 'Schirrmacher' has the skill to protect and shield others with their craft.
The Schirrmacher surname is a unique and conservative one, having been present in Germany for centuries and across parts of Europe mainly unchanged. It is a reminder of the strength and protection of someone who is willing to forge strong shields and armor in order to protect and defend their own.
Order DNA origin analysisSchirrmacher: Where does the name Schirrmacher come from?
The last name Schirrmacher is most commonly found today in Germany. Within Germany, it is most prevalent in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Hesse. This surname is also quite common in France, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland, as well as in some other parts of Europe. The earliest written records of the name Schirrmacher date back to 16th century Germany in the region of Bruenninghausen.
This is a typical German surname originating from the Middle High German term ‘schirmmære’, which translates to ‘shield-maker’. As such, it is likely to have been an occupational name that was used for people who made shields from metal or wood for military purposes.
Today, the Schirrmacher family is very widespread across Europe, however, the highest concentrations of the surname can be found in Germany. Many of the Schirrmachers living in Germany today would have gone by multiple different spellings of the name during its history, such as Schermacher, Scherrmacher, and Sceramacher.
Variations of the surname Schirrmacher
The surname Schirrmacher is an occupational name derived from the German meaning ‘armourer’ or ‘armourers’. It is derived from the Old High German words ‘schirin’ (armour) and ‘mahhar’ (maker). It is also a variant of the surname Schirmer or Schurrmeyer.
The surname Schirrmacher has several spelling and variant forms, including Schirrmeyer, Schirmacher, Schiermacher, Schiermeyer, Schirm, Schirr, Schirmer, Schurmeyer, Schurmacher, Schurrmeister, Scherrmacher, Schermer, Schermeier, Schermacher, Zirrmacher, Zirrmacher, Ziermacher, Ziermeyer, Zirmer, Zirmeier, and Zimmermacher.
It may also be found as an anglicised form of Shurmacher, Schurse, Schurmer, Schurmeyer, Shoormacker, as well as surnames originating with a baptismal names such as Schursin, Schurzin, Scharing, Schurz, and Schure. All of these names generally share a similar meaning and may have originated in a similar way.
In addition, variant forms of the name are also found among countries with languages other than German. For example, the name is found comparatively in Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands, as well as in Poland, Hungary, and France, where it appears as Shermacher, Schurmacher, Shrimakher, Szirmacher, Csirmacher, and Cermeur.
The surname Schirrmacher is relatively rare in comparison to other German surnames, with the occurrences of the name in the United States and Germany in the 1990 census being only 6 and 5, respectively. Despite its relative rarity, however, many variants and spellings of the surname have been recorded over time, further indicative of its provenance.
Famous people with the name Schirrmacher
- Wolf-Dietrich Schirrmacher: German musicologist and Bach scholar.
- Klaus Schirrmacher: German political scientist and former minister of the state of Hesse.
- Kai Schirrmacher: German sprint canoer.
- Cord-Christian Schirrmacher: German archaeologist and historian.
- Reimund Schirrmacher: German cellist and composer.
- Alexander Schirrmacher: German theatre director and dramaturg.
- Christian Schirrmacher: German philosopher and theologian.
- Felix Schirrmacher: German Olympic cross-country skier.
- Ina-Maria Schirrmacher: German singer and songwriter.
- Elisabeth Schirrmacher: German theologian.