Surname Schmälzle - Meaning and Origin
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Schmälzle: What does the surname Schmälzle mean?
The last name Schmälzle is of German origin and is an occupational surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word “schmelzen,” meaning “melt.” This suggests that someone with this last name may have had an occupation relating to metal work or melting of metal.
In many regions of Germany, people with the last name Schmälzle were historically found to be employed as metal smiths and tinsmiths. These smiths worked with a variety of metals to create tools, vessels, and weapons for everyday use.
The name also has a geographical origin from southern Germany and Austria, specifically in the state of Baden-Württemberg. People with the last name Schmälzle in these areas were also historically found to be employed in metalworking occupations.
Today, most people with the surname Schmälzle retain their ancestral roots and are still found to be concentrated in these same regions of Germany and Austria. Those who have left their homeland have carried the name with them to other parts of the world.
Overall, the last name Schmälzle holds many clues to its wearer’s ancestry and a knack for metalworking. It serves as living proof of Germanic heritage and of a proud legacy of skilled laborers in the craft of metalworking.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmälzle: Where does the name Schmälzle come from?
The last name Schmälzle is most common today in the areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The two most prominent locations with the highest concentrations of Schmälzle are Germany’s Bavaria region and Baden-Württemberg. As of 2019, Germany had the highest population of Schmälzle, with approximately 2,400 individuals bearing the name.
The surname Schmälzle derives from the Middle High German term "smelze," meaning "smelting works." This likely indicates that the first Schmälzle ancestors were originally metalworkers, and the name was likely born as a way to identify them or their place of work.
The name is also common in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. In Switzerland, the surname Schmälzle is the 858th most common name, with 276 reported to be living there in 2020. In Austria, the surname Schmälzle is the 1088th most common name, with only 68 people reported to be living there.
The name Schmälzle is also present in the United States, albeit in much smaller numbers. According to the US Census in 2020, approximately 300 individuals bore the last name. Many of these people are likely descendants of German immigrants who brought the surname with them when they made the move to America.
While the surname Schmälzle is relatively rare outside of German-speaking countries, it has a centuries-long history in those regions that continues to this day.
Variations of the surname Schmälzle
The surname Schmälzle is of German origin and has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Schmaltzle, Schmaetzle, Schmälzl, Schmältzl, Schmaelzl, Schmaltsov, Schmaetzle, and Schmaelzle.
Schmälzle is made up of two German words - “Schmalz” (meaning lard or fat) plus “le” (meaning of or belonging to) and is thought to be related to Schmalzle, meaning a person who produces lard or fat. It could also be a habitational name, indicating someone from a place named Schmalzle. It is also sometimes used as a diminutive for the name Schmal.
The Schmälzle spelling is found mainly in German records, but in some cases it can also be found spelled Schmaetzle or Schmalzl. Other variants of the name can be found as Schmaelzle, Schmaltsov, or Schmaelzl. It can also be seen with double e spelling such as Schemältzle, Schmeälzle or Schmeelzle.
In the United States, Schmälzle is generally spelled Schmaetzle or Schmalzl. The surname is most common in Germany, but is also found to a lesser extent in France and the United States. Ultimately, the surname is derived from an individual with the first name Schmal or Schmalt, and is used to describe a person who produces lard or fat.
Famous people with the name Schmälzle
- Reinhold Schmälzle: German author
- Josef Schmälzle: Swiss mathematician
- Hans Schmälzle: Austrian painter
- Heimo Schmälzle: Austrian footballer
- Ferdinand Schmälzle: German-Austrian physicist
- Sebastian Schmälzle: German footballer
- Robert Schmälzle: German cyclist
- Hans-Jörg Schmälzle: Austrian-born German ethnologist
- Rolf Schmälzle: German actor
- Dieter Schmälzle: German actor
- Lothar Schmälzle: German road bicycle racer
- Helmut Schmälzle: German Lutheran theologian
- Ulrich Schmälzle: German mathematician
- Gerd Schmälzle: German biologist
- Reinhold Schmälzle: German politician
- Schmälzle-Giese, Gertraud: Austrian author and publisher
- Winfried Schmälzle: German politician