Surname Schmaelzle - Meaning and Origin

Schmaelzle: What does the surname Schmaelzle mean?

The last name Schmaelzle (or Schmaelzel) is of German origin. It is derived from the German word “schmalz” which means small or thin, or its variant "schmaltz", which means fatty lard or fat.

The surname can refer both to a person's size or to the occupation of rendering fat from slaughter animals. In the Middle Ages, the rendering of fat was an important role in the food production chain, and certain families were expected to specialize in this activity. Families with this name, then, likely come from medieval families who shared the same profession and/or physical characteristics.

The spelling of this name can vary widely. Variations on this name include Schmaelzel, Schmälzle, Schmalz, and Schmalzl. The German spelling is "Schmaelzle" or "Schmaelzel."

Today, this surname is part of the modern German heritage and represents a proud family with a rich history in the country. Those who bear this name might be proud of their ancestors' accomplishments and would do well to learn more about the records of their families.

Schmaelzle: Where does the name Schmaelzle come from?

The last name Schmaelzle is a rare surname with only 128 people carrying it in the world. The majority of people with the last name Schmaelzle are found in Germany. The majority of the Schmaelzle surname can be traced back to the northern regions of Germany near the Netherlands border but it is also known to have originated in the upper Palatinate region of Bavaria, Germany.

There are also families with the Schmaelzle name that originate in the USA, Australia and other places around the world. In the United States, Schmaelzle families are primarily concentrated in Texas, California, and New York. In Australia, families with the surname Schmaelzle are known to reside in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales.

The Schmaelzle surname is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. The name is of German origin and can be traced to the German word "schmael" which means "small". over time, the surname has evolved into many different spellings including Schmelzle, Schmaelzle, Shmaelzle and Smeltzle.

Today, the Schmaelzle name is most common among people of German and European descent. It is not as widely distributed as some other German surnames, but it is still a relatively popular surname in certain parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Schmaelzle

The surname Schmaelzle is derived from the German word 'schmalz', which means 'fat or lard'. Some variants, spellings and surnames of this origin include; Schmaltz, Smeltz, Smalz, Smalce, Smelz, Smallz, Schmehl, Schmahl, and Schmalzle.

In the 16th century, this name was particularly widespread in German-speaking areas, including Alsace, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. It was also observed by families in South and North America.

The Schmaelzle name is believed to have originated in Germany due to the variation in sound colloquially identified as the 'z' sound compared to the 't' sound of Dutch, in primitive German countries where surnames were derived from nicknames or profession.

With the development of English spelling, the 'z' sound was later changed to a 't' sound. Thus, the Schmalz surname was anglicized to Smeltz, with the spelling variants Smaltz, Smalce, Smelz, Smallz and Saltz appearing later.

The Schmalz variation developed further, and acquired the 'eh' combination in the middle, likely as a result of Gottlieb Elsaß being recorded in the official documents in 1654, although the name was still listed as Schmalzle.

With the passage of time, some of the descendants of the Schmalzle line went on to take a variety of other surnames, such as Schmehl, Schmahl and Schmalzle, while others retained or went back to Schmaelzle.

Famous people with the name Schmaelzle

• Karl Schmaelzle (1844–1903), German entomologist and sculptor
• Dr. Wilfried Schmaelzle (born 1959), German entomologist
• Pastor Johannes Schmaelzle (1913–2003), one of the first German priests to be sent to Auschwitz
• Hermann Schmaelzle (1878–1946), German banker and art collector
• Dr. Konrad Schmaelzle (1875–1951), German anatomist
• Reinhold Schmaelzle (1890–1931), German architect
• Ernst Schmaelzle (1896–1940), German pastor, theologian and academic
• Max Schmaelzle (1867–1937), German teacher and painer
• Maria Schmaelzle (1889–1977), German obstetrician
• Christoph Schmaelzle (born 1970), German politician

Other surnames

Schmaelzlin