Surname Schleßing - Meaning and Origin

Schleßing: What does the surname Schleßing mean?

The last name Schleßing is a German name meaning one who locks or shuts. The German word 'schlessen' is the basis for the surname and it is derived from words denoting enclosure, such as schliessen (to shut), sluissen (to lock), and schülgen (to curb or bar). The earliest references to the surname date back as far as the 12th century when, in the city of Strassburg, a Schleßinger was documented, indicating that the name was in use in those areas prior to that time.

Schleßing is likely an occupational surname given to someone who owned a locksmith business, or perhaps worked in one. It could also refer to someone who worked in a castle or other fortified place and was responsible for the locking and opening of gateways, drawbridges and doors as well as the taking and receiving of keys.

The most common variation of the Schleßing surname is its spelling with an "s" at the end instead of a "ß." The wallet Englisch spelling of the name, Schlessing, is also used, and some people have anglicized the name to such forms as Schley and Sleisinger.

Schleßing is one of those surnames which is linguistically German, but geographically a Swiss name. It has been used in the Swiss cantons of Bern, Geneva, Freiburg, Schaffhausen and Basel. The Swiss configuration for this name is Schlessing, with an “s” instead of a “ß”, making it the Swiss spelling of the family name.

While the surname is mostly found in German-speaking countries, it also appears in various other European countries and the Americas due, in part, to immigration waves. Today, the surname Schleßing can be found in German, Swiss, Austrian, French, Dutch, Belgian and North American populations.

Schleßing: Where does the name Schleßing come from?

The last name Schleßing is of German origin, typically from the northern region of Germany. It is most commonly found in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, and Berlin today. Schleßing is also common in Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg.

The Schleßing surname occurs most prevalently in Germany, where it ranks 2,112 out of a total of 88,799 surnames. However, the name can also be found in small numbers outside of Germany. It is found in Russia, Poland, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Australia.

Throughout Germany, Schleßing is most commonly an occupational surname, derived from the Middle High German word “slahtes” which was used to refer to a gatekeeper or guard. As such, someone with the surname Schleßing may have originally been employed as a gatekeeper or guard at some point in his or her ancestry.

It is also possible that the name Schleßing may have been derived from a minor German noble title called “schloßvogt” which denotes a functionary of a sovereign castle, or from the term “schloßmann” which means “locksmith”. However, the surname is more likely to have come from the occupational “gatekeeper” origin.

Though rarely found outside of Germany, the Schleßing surname is quite common in Germany and can be found in many places. Its common occupational origin may be indicative of its origins.

Variations of the surname Schleßing

Surname Schleßing is a German surname that can be found in both German and English speaking countries. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Schleßing include the following:

• Schleising

• Shlesinger

• Schlusing

• Schlessinger

• Shlessing

• Schlesinger

• Schleuse

• Shlusinger

• Schluessing

• Slusinger

• Schlusling

• Schlüsing

• Schluszinger

• Schlesing

• Schlussing

• Schlusz.

These variants are all derived from the German name Schleßing and are basically Anglicised versions of the word. It is likely that the original meaning has been changed slightly due to differences in language or dialect, meaning that the spelling may have been altered.

The main origin of the name is German, although some of the surnames could have been adopted by other nationalities, such as English, Dutch, Scandinavian and even French people. It is likely that the surname is derived from an occupational name meaning ‘lock maker’ - a person who makes or repairs locks and keyholes. This is supported by the German word ‘schlüssel’ meaning ‘key’.

The surname Schleßing is fairly common in German-speaking countries, so it is possible to find records and documents – such as birth certificates – from all of these countries. It is also possible to find records from other countries where German immigrant families settled, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name Schleßing

• Martin Schleßinger: German actor, popular for his role in the 2020 movie Heimat.
• Ernst Schleßinger: German painter who lived in the 19th century. He was a member of the Düsseldorf school of painting.
• Rudolf Schleßinger: German pianist, composer, and teacher.
• Johannes Schleßinger: German pioneer of the Olympic games, having participated in the first international Olympics, as well as organizing the third.
• Karl Schleßinger: Austrian-born Austrian Architect, best known for building the first synagogue in Vienna.
• Adolf Schleßinger: German entrepreneur and founder of the famous ice cream brand “Schleßinger”.
• Wilhelm Schleßinger: German military leader in the Second World War and a recipient of many awards.
• Elmar Schleßinger: Austrian composer and organist, primarily writing religious music.
• Martina Schleßinger-Gebhard: German historian and professor emeritus at the University of Munich, specializing in medieval and modern history.
• Leonhard Schleßinger: German miner and politician, responsible for the opening of several coal-mines in Western Germany.

Other surnames

SchleßierSchleßigerSchleßinger