Surname Schivelbein - Meaning and Origin

Schivelbein: What does the surname Schivelbein mean?

The last name Schivelbein is of German origin. It is a topographic name derived from the Middle High German term of scêv, meaning 'corner' and bein, meaning 'leg' (or 'bone'). This suggests a region of forest or terrain with a prominent bend of some kind. Schivelbein is thought to be a habitational surname, derived from placenames such as Schivelbein in Pomerania, a small German town about 50 km southeast of Greifswald.

In the fourteenth century, the Schivelbein family settled in the area of modern-day Germany around the same time as the People’s Crusade. It is not known exactly when the Schivelbein family first established themselves in the region, but records show that the Schivelbein family have been in residence in the area of what is now Germany for nearly eight centuries.

Historically, Schivelbein emerged as an occupational surname associated with the forestry industry. It is likely that at one point, one or more members of the Schivelbein family were employed as foresters, making their living by felling timber in the forests of northern Germany. The surname can be found among the various German populations found in nearby regions, both before and after the industrial revolution.

In modern times, the Schivelbein surname is still used among the German population in Europe and North America. While its direct meaning is no longer widely associated with the area of Schivelbein, the name is still strongly associated with its German origins.

Schivelbein: Where does the name Schivelbein come from?

The last name Schivelbein is most commonly found in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is a very old name, first recorded in a document in 1226 on a settlement list of Lower Saxony. The name features prominently in the Bible; it was the name of a town in the Book of Joshua and of a leader of the tribe of Judah.

In modern Germany, the surname Schivelbein is found in both the east and the west, including Bremen, Lower Saxony, Munich, and Brandenburg. It is most prevalent in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, located in the northeast of the country, where it is the sixth most common surname.

In 2019, Schivelbein was the 1,178th most common surname in in Germany and the 2,236th most common last name in Europe. It is also found in countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States. Records suggest that the original spelling of Schivelbein in Germany was Schevendlin, which was later changed to Schivelbein.

For those with ties to the Schivelbein surname, it can serve as a source of family history and pride. It is a testament to a long history and shared connection in Germany and other countries.

Variations of the surname Schivelbein

The surname Schivelbein has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname Schivelbein include Schivelbine, Schibbeleine, Schibeller, Schiveller, Schibeler, Skiveller, Skivilbin and Skiweleben.

The variants of the surname Schivelbein likely derive from Germany, where the name is said to be derived from the Germanic words “Schiefer” (meaning “slanted” or “crooked”) and “Bühl” (meaning “hill”). A literal German translation of the surname Schivelbein would therefore be “crooked hill”.

The surname Schivelbein may also be found via other spellings, which include Schivelbena, Schivelbaena, Schivelban, Schibelbon, Schibelbone, Shibbelbein, Schibbelbein, Skibbelbein and suffix variations such as Schivelbeiner and Schibliener.

In addition to variants of the surname Schivelbein, there are also other surnames of Germanic origin that are related in some way to the Schivelbein name including Schebel, Schibel, Skibel, Shibler, Schäffer and Schäffert.

Overall, the surname Schivelbein has a wide-reaching history, with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that all have the same Germanic roots.

Famous people with the name Schivelbein

• August Schivelbein (1863–1945), German sculptor
• Max Schivelbein (1909–1990), German journalist and author
• Friedrich Schivelbein (1770–1849), German poet
• Hertha Schivelbein (1898–1982), German teacher, poet, author
• Louis Schivelbein (1874–1957), German hunter, businessman and politician
• Wilhelm Schivelbein (1796–1881), German builder
• Richard Schivelbein (1864–1942), German military captain
• Peter Schivelbein (1797–1863), German violinist and composer
• Franz Schivelbein (1806–1875), German botanist
• Alfred Schivelbein (1877-1960), German-American military officer and engineer

Other surnames

Schivelbusch