Surname Schloßer - Meaning and Origin

Descendant of Schloßer: A Journey of Self-Discovery with iGENEA DNA Test

Using iGENEA’s DNA test was a journey of self-discovery that unveiled my connection to the Schloßer lineage. Amid mixed emotions, I found a deeper understanding of my familial heritage, reshaping my identity and strengthening family connections.

Z. Schloßer

Schloßer: What does the surname Schloßer mean?

The surname Schloßer is derived from the German occupation of a locksmith or castle gatekeeper. The root of the surname, 'schloss' means 'castle', 'fortress', or 'gate', showing the origin of the original bearer of this surname.

A locksmith was a highly skilled professional in the Middle Ages whose responsibility was to create and repair locks and keys for castle gates and noble houses. A lock was considered a piece of engineering and design and could be quite intricate in its construction. Someone with the Schloßer surname was likely a professional locksmith or castle gatekeeper during this time period in German history.

The name may have also been given to a person who lived near a castle at some point in time. This person may have been associated with a castle through a job like farming or grazing animals, or simply living near one may have been enough to earn the name.

Due to its Germanic origins, the Schloßer name has spread to many other countries around the world. In the United States, the Schloßer name can be found most commonly in the state of Pennsylvania. As with other German surnames, the Schloßer name has taken on many spelling variations over the years, although Schloßer still remains the most common spelling.

Schloßer: Where does the name Schloßer come from?

The last name Schloßer is primarily common in the German-speaking countries of Europe, namely Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Variations on the name, including Schlösser, Shloesser, and Schloeser, are seen throughout Europe as well.

The surname seems to have originated in the regions around the German-speaking area, but records of its use go back as far as the 14th century in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the South of France. This suggests that it is an old name that was brought by Germanic tribes to these regions.

Schloßer is still a common name in Germany, where people bearing the name make up 0.14% of the population. In Austria, the name is also common, accounting for 0.08% of the population according to a recent census. Additionally, the name has spread to other countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil.

In other words, though Schloßer is an old name, it is still present in the German-speaking countries of Europe as well as in other countries around the world. It is estimated that anywhere from one in two thousand to one in five thousand individuals carry the last name Schloßer.

Variations of the surname Schloßer

Schloßer is a German surname, originating from Middle High German. It is most commonly spelled as Schlosser in present-day Germany and modern English-speaking countries. Other variants include Slosser, Slocher, Schlößer, Schlößelle, Schlöser, Schlössl, Schlößl, Schloszler, Schlosseur, Schlozzer, and Schlozz.

Within Germany, the surname has mainly been found in the south and southwest regions of the country, such as in Baden-Wurttenberg and Bavaria. It can also be found in Austria, Switzerland and the Silesian region of Poland.

Americans with this surname trace their ancestry to the 18th and 19th century waves of German emigration to the United States. During that time, the surname was often Anglicized to Slocum, Slosser, or Slaughter. In addition, family members who emigrated to the American West Coast during the mid-19th century often settled nearby in what was then part of Mexico and adopted the Spanish version of Schloßer: Escalante.

The Edelstahl family, which was among the earliest families of German origin in the United States, were related to the Schloßer family by marriage, so the surnames Edelstahl and Schloßer are often found linked.

Schloßer is also used as a first or middle name, often in honor of an ancestor with the surname. In this case, it is used as a kind of patronymic. For instance, Clara would be given the middle name Schloßer after her grandfather, who was called Ernst Schloßer.

Although the spelling of the name has changed over time, the core meaning remains the same: a person who works with locks and keys.

Famous people with the name Schloßer

• Albert Schloßer (1722–1752), German theologian and historian.
• Franz Schloßer (1747–1792), German historian and statesman.
• Joseph Schloßer (1759–1816), German philosopher and poet.
• Johannes Schloßer (1776–1832), German historian and politician.
• Friedrich Schloßer (1777–1844), German theologian and historian.
• Wilhelm Schloßer (1797–1870), German historian and literary critic.
• Ludwig Schloßer (1821–1881), German physician and bacteriologist.
• Julius Schloßer (1861–1943), German orientalist and art historian.
• Paul Schloßer (1883–1944), German lawyer, legal scholar, and politician.
• Erich Schloßer (1894–1960), German composer.
• Jupp Schloßer (born 1928), German actor.
• Barbara Schloßer (born 1938), German film producer.
• Elke Schloßer (born 1941), German writer and editor.
• Jürgen Schloßer (born 1947), German author and journalist.
• Katrin Schloßer (born 1948), German politician.
• Jürgen Schloßer (born 1956), German musician and composer.
• Monika Schloßer (born 1960), German actress.
• Martin Schloßer (born 1961), German journalist and theatre director.
• Christian Schloßer (born 1965), German football coach.
• Jörg Schloßer (born 1966), German politician.

Other surnames

SaadiSaalmannSaalmuellerSaalmüllerSaamanthaSaamerSaanthaSaarlandSaatciSaatkampSabadilSabadillSabanciSAbanorSabathielSabathilSabbaghSabelSabineSaboSabolSabolcecSabolekSabolovic