Surname Schlachter - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schlachter: What does the surname Schlachter mean?
The last name Schlachter is of German origin and translates to "butcher" in English. It is derived from the Middle High German word "slahter," which is a professional name for someone who slaughters animals or a butcher. This type of surname falls into the category of occupational surnames, which are based on the primary occupation of the individual. Such names were usually passed down from father to son and were first created for purposes of identification, during the Middle Ages when people started moving into towns and cities and specific job functions needed clarification. The name Schlachter would have originally been assigned to someone who worked as a butcher. Even today, the word “Schlachter” is still used in modern German as a term for a butcher.
Order DNA origin analysisSchlachter: Where does the name Schlachter come from?
The last name Schlachter is most common in Germany today. According to NameSurfer.com, Schlachter is collectively the 891st most popular last name in Europe, with its greatest concentration of use in the country of Germany.
According to Genealogical.com, Schlachter is derived from the Old High German aka Middle High German words "slach" and "ter" which mean "slaughter" and "one who does." This suggests that the name may be derived from a certain type of occupation, which was apparently widely practiced in the Rhine region of what is modern-day Germany in the middle of the 12th century.
Today, the name Schlachter is most common in the city states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with its cities including Stuttgart, Munich, Nuremberg, Heidelberg, Freiburg, and others. Although the name is not very common outside of Germany, there are also a number of families bearing the last name spread throughout the United States, Canada, and other countries.
Variations of the surname Schlachter
The surname Schlachter is a German-Jewish occupational name which meant “butcher” in English. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin can be found in locations throughout Europe, including Poland, Russia, Austria, France, and England. The variations of the Schlachter surname include: Schlachtér, Schlesser, Schlegeler, Schlageter, Schlegel, Schleicher, Schleifer, Schlichter, Schloesser, Slauchter, Slawchter, Slawcheter, Slauchter, Slechtter, Sligter, Sloegter, Slockter, Slauschter and Slouhter. These surnames are all derived from “Schlachter” but have been adapted to local dialects.
In America, the spelling of the surname has been changed slightly to Slaght, which is primarily used in Pennsylvania Dutch communities. In addition, the surname is also found as Shlosch, as well as many other phonetic spellings of the original German word.
The Schlachter name likely originated with Jews who lived in Germany during the Middle Ages. During this period, Jews often practiced occupations that were socially and religiously unacceptable for Christians. This included professions like slaughtering and preparing meat, a job which would have been known as a schlachter. Over the centuries, these individuals earned their surnames based upon their profession and it likely made its way across Europe and to America, where the spelling of the name has changed slightly due to dialect and language barriers.
Famous people with the name Schlachter
- Simon Schlachter: Simon is a German music producer and DJ, with several top 40 hits on the German music charts.
- Ira Schlachter: Ira is an American businesswoman and entrepreneur credited with inventing the BabyBjorn, one of the most popular baby carriers of the 21st century.
- Amy Schlachter: Amy is an American television and film actress, best known for her roles in the TV show, "The Bridge", and the film, "The Corruptor".
- Joshua Schlachter: Joshua is an American computer programmer, best known for being the creator of the web browser, FireFox.
- Kenneth Schlachter: Kenneth is a US Army Colonel retired after 37 years of service and an international intelligence expert.
- Danny Schlachter: Danny is an American musician and vocalist, best known for being a founding member of the rock band, "Kiss".
- Cal Schachtner: Cal is a Canadian well-known professional poker player, having won multiple tournaments and over $1 million in winnings.
- Mae Schlachter Schreier: Mae is a Founder of a non-profit media organization, advocating for the rights of children and youth worldwide.
- Richard Schlachter: Richard is an Industrial production manager, with experience in industrial process engineering and robotics.
- Miriam Schlachter: Miriam is an Austrian social media manager and influencer, best known for her blog and vlogs.