Surname Schlessmann - Meaning and Origin
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Schlessmann: What does the surname Schlessmann mean?
The surname Schlessmann is of German origin. It is derived from the word “schlesser,” which was an occupational name for a slater, or a person who worked with roofing materials such as tiles, slate, and shingles. The name Schlessmann could also be derived from the German word “schleicht,” which means “to slip away” or quietsly depart. The name is found throughout most of Germany, especially in cities such as Hamburg and Berlin.
The Schlessmann name was fairly popular throughout Germany; it was registered as early as the 1600s in Berlin and Hamburg. In German, the Schlessmann name can also be spelled Schläsmann or Sleßman. The frequency of the name has declined in Germany by 5.1%, though it is still relatively common.
Throughout history, the Schlessmann surname was most associated with carpenters, and most likely was an occupational name for those in that profession. Some may have originally practiced the craft of slating, which was a skill easily taught to children. It is likely that the name declined in frequency in the past Century due to the industrialisation, as less people were employed in the traditional trades of carpentry and roofing.
Today the surname Schlessmann may continue to be associated with some form of carpentry or roofing, though it is not limited to that vocation. For some, it is a reminder of the earlier centuries when Germany was a rural and agrarian nation.
Order DNA origin analysisSchlessmann: Where does the name Schlessmann come from?
The last name Schlessmann is most commonly found today in Germany, and in other countries where significant numbers of German immigrants settled. During the turbulent period of the mid-19th century when waves of Europeans began moving to other parts of the world, many Germans also left their homeland to seek a better future in America, South America, and elsewhere.
In Germany itself, records show that the name first appeared in the 1500s in some of the northern German states such as Hamburg, Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. During the 20th century, additional Schlessmanns began spreading eastward into eastern German states as well.
In America, the last name Schlessmann is associated with immigrants who mostly arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s, settling in areas with other German immigrants such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, and New York. The spelling of the name varied among the immigrants, with some changing it to Schlussman, Schlussmann, Schlessman, or Schlesman.
Today, the majority of the Schlessmann families are still concentrated in Germany, where many of them are part of the growing professional class, owning farms, businesses, and other enterprises. In America, the name continues to remain popular, with branches of the Schlessmann family scattered across the country.
Variations of the surname Schlessmann
Schlessmann is a German surnamethat originated from the words ‘Schlesien’, which means ’Silesia’. It can also contain the prefix ‘von’, which indicates nobility or origin.
The variants and spellings of Schlessmann include Schleßmann, Schlesmann, Schlesman, Schlüsmann, Schluesmann, Schluessmann, Shlessman, Shlesman, Shleßmann, Schlüßmann, and Shlussman. It can also be written without the umlaut with the double vowel as Schlessman, Schlesman, Schlussman, Shlessmann, and Shlesmann.
Many of these variants have their own unique surnames. These include Schlesner, Slesner, Schlesinger, Shlesinger, Schlüßner, Schluessner, Schlussner, Shlusser, Shlesicher, Schlesegar, Slissman, Schlossig, Schloesser, and Shlosman. The surnames Schlösser, Schlessinger, Shlossberg, Shlesinger, and Schlesien are also associated with Schlessmann.
Many of the surnames mentioned are commonly found across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Some of these variants can also be found in other European countries, as well as the United States.
Famous people with the name Schlessmann
- Stefan Schlessmann: owner of Schlessmann GmbH, a company specializing in automotive quality control;
- Wolfgang Schlessmann: German politician, former minister of Finance in Bavaria;
- Caspar Schlessmann: German professor of education and former chairman of the Saxon Youth Council;
- Monika Schlessmann: German social worker, specializing in adolescent mental health;
- Jaap Schlessmann: Dutch rugby union player;
- Leni Schlessmann: German artist, works mostly in ink, charcoal and pastel;
- Eike Schlessmann: German entrepreneur and businessman;
- Felix Schlessmann: Austrian-American cellist, principal chair with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra;
- Isabelle Schlessmann: French handball player, world-renowned for her offensive play;
- Sören Schlessmann: German poet, author of the acclaimed collection “Klang der Trommeln” (Sound of the Drums).