Surname Schließer - Meaning and Origin
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Schließer: What does the surname Schließer mean?
The last name Schließer is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "sliozzer" and the Low German word "slöse", which both mean "lock" or "locker". The surname originated as an occupational name for someone who manufactured or repaired locks. It is also considered to be a variation of the name Schlüssel which is German for "key".
The earliest known reference to the name Schließer was found in the Frioul region of France in the 14th century. Since then the name has spread to many German speaking countries like Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States.
The surname is ranked as the 876th most common last name in Germany and is commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Hesse, and Lower Saxony.
Schließer has also acquired a few nicknames over the years like Schließl, Schließmacher, and Schlost. The nickname Schließl came from the diminutive form of the name Schlösser and was used by local populations to identify locksmiths as being from the Schließer family.
Most of the people who bear the name Schließer are closely related and descended from the original bearer of the surname. Many of them still make their living as locksmiths even in modern times.
Order DNA origin analysisSchließer: Where does the name Schließer come from?
The last name Schließer is most often found in Germany and Austria. It is an occupational name derived from a type of doorkeeper. Specifically, the name Schließer is derived from the German verb “schließen” which means “to close” or “to lock”. The name was likely used to identify a person who worked as a doorkeeper, gatekeeper, or “Schlüsselmeister”, someone who held the keys to the castle and was responsible for letting the right people in and out.
Today, the name is most common in south-central and southwestern Germany, especially in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as well as in Austria. It is somewhat less common in the northwestern regions of Germany.
Moreover, according to a telephone directory survey done in 1982, the name had a greater presence in places that were earlier parts of East Germany, such as Berlin and Leipzig. Additionally, during the time of the German Reunification and in the years before, people with this last name moved to the US, Canada, and Australia.
Overall, the Schließer name is still common in German-speaking countries today and to a lesser extent in other countries.
Variations of the surname Schließer
The surname Schließer is a German habitational surname, which derives from a place named "Schliese" located in Northern Germany. It is believed to have been derived from a low German word meaning 'lock', referring to someone who lived at a site where locks were produced or maintained. The spelling of the surname is also seen as Schlüßer, Schleißer, Schleisser, Schleiser, Schlüser, Schleiß, Schlieser and Spleißer in various parts of Europe. Variants of the surname Schließer that exist in other countries include Schliesser, Schliesse, Schlisser and Schleiss.
The surname can also be found in Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands in the spelling Schließer, and Schlisser is a variant found in Scandinavian countries. The variant Schliesse is found in the Netherlands, and Schlieser is found among Catholic families in Germany.
Surnames of the same Norman origin include Schröer, Schleier, Schlienario, Schlöer, Schloeer, Schlicker, Schlier, Schlee, Schloer, and Schoeller. Many of these surnames are still found in Germany in various spelling variations.
In the United States, the surname is found in the Pennsylvania German form of Schlisening and Schlisinger, and in the English-American forms of Schleisinger and Schlesinger. These variants are derived from the original habitational name.
The origin of the surname is likely Old German or Old Norman, and it is believed that the first people to bear the surname originally resided in Northern Germany. The various spellings of the surname would have developed over the years throughout Europe as families moved, changed their name to adapt to their environment, or simply because of the way that the name was recorded and documented.
Famous people with the name Schließer
- Maximilian Schließer: German physicist and professor at ETH Zurich.
- Ansgar Schließer: German ice hockey player and former professional.
- Josef Schließer: German general and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
- Ulrich Schließer: German recumbent cyclist and multiple gold medal winner at the Paralympic Games.
- Heinrich Schließer: German actor and singer of the 30s.
- Clemens Schließer: German organist, choir director and music pedagogue.
- Adela Schließer: German female cinematographer and film producer.
- Nicolai Schließer: German policeman, member of Nazi organizations, and concentration camp guard from 1944-1945.
- Wolfgang Schließer: German truck owner and socialist politician.
- Paul Schließer: Austrian athlete and cyclist who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.