Surname Schmahlenberg - Meaning and Origin
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Schmahlenberg: What does the surname Schmahlenberg mean?
The last name Schmahlenberg is an occupational last name, derived from an old German word "schmalzenberg" which loosely translates to "worker in a fat mill". It was likely the name adopted by members of this profession in medieval Germany.
At that time, fat mills were used to process animal fats and oils into usable products such as ointments, soaps, cooking oil, and tallow candles for a variety of uses. This would have been a highly sought-after profession, since oil was essential for cooking processes as well as lighting and lubrication. The name itself was derived from the German word for smelting or refining (schmalz), and the word berg, which means mountain. This suggests that the original Schmahlenbergs may have had their own refining-mountain with a tailored workshop.
Due to the scarcity of skills required to work in the profession, Schmahlenbergs enjoyed a certain level of social status. Additionally, the work likely exposed the Schmahlenbergs to activities such as trade, manufacturing, and international networking, affording them opportunities to travel and establish business relationships.
Today, Schmahlenbergs can be found in many parts of Germany and beyond as a result. While it is likely that many Schmahlenbergs no longer practice the profession, its origins provide insight into the history of this family name and the hard work and skills the original practitioners of this profession employed in order to support their families.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmahlenberg: Where does the name Schmahlenberg come from?
The last name Schmahlenberg is most likely a German topographic name, derived from the Old German words “schmale” meaning “narrow” and “berg” meaning “mountain”, so it would make sense that the surname is most common in Germany.
In fact, Schmahlenberg is most popular in the Germany/Northern Europe region. According to Forebears, a genealogy website, the surname is most common in Germany with significant populations in Austria and Switzerland as well. The highest population of Schmahlensbergs live in the town of Bingen in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, with a population count of over 600 people at the last census. This surname is also less common in the Netherlands and American states such as California, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Oregon.
The Schmahlenberg surname can be traced back to the 12th century in Germany and was used to identify those who originated from the narrow mountain. As the number of people dwelling in this area has changed over the years, so too has the prevalence of the Schmahlenberg surname. It is very likely that some Schmahlenbergs emigrated and spread around the world. Today, the Schmahlenberg surname can still be found in the regions where it originated as well as other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Schmahlenberg
The variant, spellings and surnames of Schmahlenberg are Schmaehlenberg, Schmaehlberg, Schmaelberg, Schmalberg, Smahlberg, Smeltzberg, Smalberg, Schmehlberg, Schmaehlenburgh, Smahlburgh, Schmaelenberger, Smoltzenberger, Schmoelberger, Schmalenberger and Smelterberger.
The Schmahlenberg surname is of German origin and is derived from the words "smahl" or "schmahl," both of which mean “small” in German and the word “berg” which means “mountain” in German. The name is occupational, having been given to an individual who lived near or on a small mountain. The earliest recorded use of the surname in the form of Schmaehlenberg dates back to the year 1515.
Since its first recorded use in the 1500s the Schmahlenberg surname has been used to generate a wide variety of variant spellings and surnames. These variants were most likely generated by people attempting to spell the name phonetically or because of a regional dialect and could even have been a deliberate attempt to obfuscate the family’s lineage.
The Schmahlenberg surname can be found in records throughout Europe, mainly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. However, due to the irrational migration patterns of many of Europe’s citizens during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries it is also present in records from other European countries, such as the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Schmahlenberg
- Ulrike Schmahlenberg: Ulrike Schmahlenberg is a German actor most known for her stage and television roles. She is best known for her roles in ” Boxed” and “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.”
- Inge-Mone Schmahlenberg: Inge-Mone Schmahlenberg is a German actress who appeared in films such as “Derlandernicht” and “Lydia Valke.”
- Tonio Schmahlenberg: Tonio Schmahlenberg is a German actor who is known for appearing in the films “Legend” and “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”
- Frieda Schmahlenberg: Frieda Schmahlenberg is a German actress who is best known for her role in the play “Der Hund und Ich.”
- Kätchen Schmahlenberg: Kätchen Schmahlenberg is a German actor who played a pivotal role in the movie “Lola” alongside Marlene Dietrich.
- Christian Schmahlenberg: Christian Schmahlenberg is a German television and film actor who is most known for his appearances in TV drama series’ such as “Rosenmontag” and “Altersglühen.”
- Friedrich Schmahlenberg: Friedrich Schmahlenberg is a German poet and author who is best known for his works such as “Von Ida Im Zeichen Des Cheops” and “27 Dichten.”
- Charlotte Schmahlenberg: Charlotte Schmahlenberg is a German journalist and television presenter who is most known for her work on the RTL II news show “Artgerecht.”