Surname Schmeding - Meaning and Origin

Schmeding: What does the surname Schmeding mean?

The surname Schmeding is of German origin and derives from the German word "schmalen" which means "to narrow". This in turn suggests that the name may describe the occupation of a person who engaged in some kind of narrowing activity such as a tailor or a locksmith. One historical individual with the surname Schmeding was Ferdinand Schmeding, an early Lutheran missionary who on August 8, 1827, founded the first Lutheran church in the state of Iowa.

Schmeding is a fairly uncommon name and is believed to have first originated in the heavily forested, rural area of Lower Saxony in northwest Germany. Over time, the name may have spread to some other parts of Germany and even elsewhere in Europe.

Today, the surname Schmeding is still carried by lot of people, mainly located in the Lower Saxony region of northwest Germany. It is also borne by some people in other countries such as the United States, where immigrations of German people have occurred over the years.

Given the long and colourful history of the Schmeding surname and its close associations with certain places and occupations, the name can serve as an evocative reminder of the German-speaking heritage shared by many people today.

Schmeding: Where does the name Schmeding come from?

The last name Schmeding is most commonly found today in Germany. The surname derives from a Southern German translation for “smithing.” It is thought to have originated around Lower Saxony and Westphalia (Regions of Germany), but is found more predominately in the central part of the country.

Today, Schmeding is an extremely common last name in Germany, with nearly 7,500 people spread throughout norther, southern, eastern and western parts of the country. In some regions, such as the Langenhagen municipality of Lower Saxony, the name's popularity is more pronounced, with the surname accounting for almost 1% of the population.

The Schmeding name is also prevalent in countries around the world which have a strong German presence, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina and Brazil among many others. According to World Names Public-Profile data, it ranks 2,559th in the U.S. with 431 people having this name. In Brazil, it is even more popular, having more than 3,000 people with this last name.

Though the origin of the Schmeding name is steeped in the past, it still has a strong presence today, signifying the continued influence of German culture around the world.

Variations of the surname Schmeding

The surname Schmeding is of German origin and has several variants, spellings and associated surnames. Some of the variants of Schmeding are Schmedingh, Schmedink, Schmidting, Schmieding, Schmidtink, Schmitke, Schmitting and Schmitgen.

The spelling variations of Schmeding typically include Schmeding, Schmedinck, Schmidting, Schmieding, Schmidtink, Schmedingh, Schmitke, Schmitting, and Schmitgen. The paleographic variations of the original spelling of Schmeding have kept the surname from being organized in alphabetical order in some German records, making it difficult to trace ancestral roots in some cases.

In the Netherlands, the spelling variations of Schmeding include Schmeding, Schmedink, Schmedingh, Schmidting, Schmieding, Schmitke, and Schmitting. Additionally, the variant surnames of Schmidtgen and Schmieden have also been observed in Dutch records.

In Germany, the variants of the Schmeding surname include Schmeding, Schmedinck, Schmidting, Schmieding, Schmidtink, Schmitke, Schmitting, and Schmitgen, as well as Schmidgen, Schmeden and Smienden.

Finally, in the United States and Canada, the spelling variations of Schmeding include Schmeding, Schmedink, Schmedingh, Schmieding, Schmidtink, Schmitke, Schmitting, and Schmitgen, as well as Schmidtgen and Schmieden.

The spelling variations of this surname are evidence that the Schmeding surname was established many years ago in Germany and subsequently spread to the United States and Canada as well as to the Netherlands.

Famous people with the name Schmeding

• Stephanie Schmeding: a Make-up artist notable for her work on the sets of the film “Familienstand”.
• Wilhelm Schmeding: a German theologian and preacher in the 19th century.
• Diethelm Schmeding: a German physicist, educator and scientist who founded the Osservatorio Interplanetario Indipendente Amici di Maria Stella in 1971.
• Arnim Schmeding: an art historian who specializes in the paintings of the German Renaissance painter Adam Elsheimer.
• Andreas Schmeding: a former competitive ice hockey player who represented Germany at the 2004 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
• Wolfgang Schmeding: a German porcelain painter and a professor at the University of applied Arts in Berlin.
• Johannes Schmeding: a legal historian and writer who wrote the book “Begleitung im Strafverfahren” (“Companion in Criminal Prosecution”).
• Stefan Schmeding: a former professional football player who played for several German clubs in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• Igor Schmeding: a diplomat and ambassador for the Republic of Estonia, currently serving in the capacity of ambassador to the United States of America.
• Felix Schmeding: a German filmmaker who directed the short film “Die Grenze” (“The Limit”).

Other surnames

Schmedicke