Surname Schlags - Meaning and Origin
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Schlags: What does the surname Schlags mean?
The last name Schlags is an occupational surname of German origin, derived from the word “Schlag,” meaning “strike” or “blow.” This last name likely derives from an ancestor who held a job as a laborer, which involved striking or hitting, such as a blacksmith or other metal worker. Alternatively, people with the Schlags surname may have adopted it from a place- name, as a number of locations in Germany are also named Schlags.
The surname Schlags likely first appeared in records in Germany in the 14th century. It was relatively rare across Europe until the 18th and 19th centuries, when many of the minority religions of Europe, like Judaism, began to be persecuted. Those facing religious or economic persecution often emigrated, and some people bearing the Schlags surname are likely descended from these ancestors. The Schlags family name can be found in records from Austria, the Czech Republic, Israel, Poland, and Germany.
Additionally, some people with the Schlags surname may be descended from members of the Jewish faith who underwent a name change in the late 19th century, as a way of avoiding persecution. In some cases, they adopted the names of professions or locales, meaning that the Schlags surname may not always trace back to a worker who struck metal.
Overall, the last name Schlags can be traced back to a laborer who “struck” for a living, or may also be derived from a place-name. If one’s surname is Schlags, it is likely that their relatives have lived in Central and Eastern Europe for many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisSchlags: Where does the name Schlags come from?
The last name Schlags is most commonly found in Germany and specifically in the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia where it is ranked among the top 100 last names. The name first appears in records from the 1600s, so it is believed to have originated in those areas centuries ago. Schlags is thought to be a regional last name, meaning it was more common to certain regions of Germany than others.
In the German town of Schlagsdorf, located in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern near the Baltic coast, a street and a school are named after the Schlags family. This supports the idea that the last name originates from this area.
Despite German's diaspora leading to thousands of German people migrating to various countries around the world, the last name Schlags is thought to have stayed mainly in the country of its origin. In Germany today, there are estimated to be around 12,700 people with the last name Schlags. The name has become more widespread in recent decades, a result of the German reunification in 1990 and the increased mobility of the population throughout Europe ever since.
Variations of the surname Schlags
Schlags is a German-origin surname with multiple spellings and surnames that may be related to it.
The most common spelling of Schlags is Schlag, which is the most likely variation of Schlags. This spelling is found throughout Germany, especially in the former Prussian province of East Prussia. Other common variations in Germany are Schlagge, Schlegel, Schlagg, Schlaeger, and Schlöge.
In the United States, the variants Schlang, Schlink, and Schling have become more common. On the island of Jersey in the English Channel, the surname Schlagg is the most popular spelling. In Russia, Szlag, Szlags, Shlags, and Shlegel are found.
The origin of the surname is found in old Germanic language, with the root “Schlagu,” meaning “strike or beat” which may denote someone who was either a strike or a slayer.
There are also variants of the name that have been shifted phonetically, such as Slag, Slegg, Slog, and Slack. As well as variants that emerged as a patronymic name, such as Schlager, Schlegel, and Schlegeloff. This form of the name originates from medieval Germanic roots "schlagg" which is a variation of the word “schlag” which meant “strike or hit”.
Other surnames that may have a connection to Schlags include Slager, Schlaeger, Sleger, Schlegel, Schlegelmeir, Schlieger, Schlegelhoff, Schlögel, Slogger, Schleger, Schlegelmann, Schlegelmayer, Schlageter, Schlegelmuth, Schlogel, and Schlegelheger. All of these surnames are related in some way to Schlags, but it is difficult to determine the exact connection between these surnames and Schlags.
Famous people with the name Schlags
- Markus Schlags: German footballer.
- Nicole Schlags: German actress and television presenter.
- Kris Schlags: Canadian professional wrestler.
- Carsten Schlags: German former field hockey player.
- Peter Schlags: German professional cyclist.
- Jacques Schlags: French photographer and auctioneer.
- Kayo Schlags: Japanese professional tennis player.
- Heiko Schlags: German conductor and organist.
- Wolfram Schlags: German Olympic fencer.
- Ruben Schlags: Dutch professional football player.
- Zoltan Schlags: German alpine ski racer.
- Johannes Schlags: German track and field athlete.
- Harald Schlags: German professional footballer.
- Josef Schlags: German international soccer player.
- Birgit Schlags: Austrian figure skater.
- John Schlags: American former NCAA basketball coach.
- Maria Schlags: German figure skater.
- Emilio Schlags: Spanish professional water polo player.
- Joseph Schlags: Austrian professional ice hockey player.
- Alfred Schlags: founding member of the Schlags business group.