Surname Schmedlen - Meaning and Origin
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Schmedlen: What does the surname Schmedlen mean?
The surname Schmedlen is thought to be of German origin. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "schmeder" which means "snack". This could be because the original bearers of the surname lived near a bakery or another food shop. It is also possible that the name was derived from the Middle High German word "schmede" which translates to blacksmith. This could mean that the original bearers of the Schmedlen name were blacksmiths.
The Schmedlen surname can be found mainly in Germany and the United States of America, suggesting that it could have emigrated from Germany.
The Schmedlen surname is said to have originally been a toponymic surname, this is where the name is taken from a place, for example the place from where the original bearer of the name was from. This could mean that the descendants of the original bearer of the Schmedlen surname would have come from or lived near a place called Schmedlen.
The Schmedlen surname is rarely used and is an uncommon name in many countries. It is however a very unique name and can be quite meaningful too, as it represents the possibilities of both a baker and a blacksmith. The rare and unique qualities to the Schmedlen surname suggest that the surname was deliberately sought out by those who wanted a name that would set them aside from the rest.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmedlen: Where does the name Schmedlen come from?
The last name Schmedlen is primarily found today in Germany and other countries in the German-speaking region of central Europe.
In Germany, the Schmedlen family is believed to have originated in the Rhineland, a historical region of western Germany along the River Rhine. This area was long the site of political, economic, and cultural exchange between Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Records show that the first recorded member of the Schmedlen family was Heinrich Schmedlen, who was born in the year 1689.
The Schmedlen name is often still seen in the western provinces of Germany, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, and some parts of Eastern Europe. Spelling variants of the name include Schmetlen, Schmeldt, and Schmelden.
In North America, the Schmedlen name is much rarer. A handful of families carrying the name Schmedlen have made their homes in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and in Wisconsin. Those bearing the name can also be found in states such as Michigan, Illinois, New York, and California.
In Australia, the Schmedlen name can be found in southern Victoria, but it is far less common there than it is in the countries of its origin.
Overall, the Schmedlen surname is quite rare in present times, but it is still found in the countries of its origin. Though its spelling varies in different countries, the origin and basic meaning of the name remain the same.
Variations of the surname Schmedlen
The surname Schmedlen is an uncommon family name, with infrequent occurrences. Its variants, spellings, and alternate surnames of the same origin are as follows:
Schmiedlein: this variant is a combination of the German words for "smith" and "little". It could be a nickname for small smiths or blacksmiths.
Schmidtlin: though this spelling has been used in the past in the United States, Schmidtlin is actually the diminutive of the German surname Schmidt.
Schmedly: this variant is an alternate spelling of Schmedlen, which is derived from the Old German smid, meaning "smith".
Schmedling: This name is derived from Middle High German smeling, which means "smith".
Schmedlar: this name could be derived from the Austrian-bavarian dialectal term for "smith".
Schmieder: This is an alternate surname from the same origin as Schmedlen and is derived from the German word for "smith".
Schmiedl: This spelling is a variation of the Germanic surname Schmiedlein that refers to "small smiths".
Schmeidler: This is a variant of Schmedlen derived from the Germanic words for "smith" and "one who does the smithing".
Overall, the surname Schmedlen has several variants, alternative spellings, and alternate surnames of the same origin. These different spellings point to a common origin in Germany, where the name was likely derived from the German word for "smith".
Famous people with the name Schmedlen
- Jon Schmedlen, Former United States Ambassador to Canada
- Christopher Schmedlen, Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at University of Nevada, Reno
- Paul Schmedlen, Former professional American football player
- Joe Schmedlen, Former professional baseball player
- Kurt Schmedlen, German footballer
- Yvonne Schmedlen, German filmmaker
- Robert Schmedlen, German Paralympic swimmers
- David Schmedlen, American guitarist
- Regis Schmedlen, Former professional American football player
- Jacob Schmedlen, American Christian musician and author.