Surname Schmelewski - Meaning and Origin
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Schmelewski: What does the surname Schmelewski mean?
The last name Schmelewski is derived from a Polish surname, which itself is derived from the word for 'smith' in Old High German. The name Schmelewski would therefore initially have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a smith or a blacksmith.
In Poland, Schmelewski is most commonly found in the towns of Zawiercie, Krakow and Wodzislawie. The surname has also spread to other regions in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Bulgaria.
From these regions, Schmelewski has become an international surname, and can now be found in countries across the world. Its meaning has stayed the same, and a person with the surname Schmelewski can usually be assumed to have a family history that extends back to the smith trade.
Schmelewski is also a fairly uncommon last name, so it is likely that someone with this name will find its origin interesting and may want to explore its more distant family history. It could also be an opportunity for them to learn more about the traditional craft of smithing, or to understand more about their settlements, land, and culture of origin.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmelewski: Where does the name Schmelewski come from?
The last name Schmelewski is most common in East and Central European countries, such as Poland, Estonia, and Latvia. It has also been found in the United States, Australia, Canada, and England.
In Poland, Schmelewski is one of the 1000 most common surnames, and is most frequently seen around the city of Lublin in the south-eastern region. Records from Estonia suggest that this surname was first found in the area around 1520AD. According to the Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia, the Schmelewski family was prominent in Estonia in the 18th century.
In the United States, Schmelewski is primarily found in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Michigan. According to the 1940 US Census, approximately 100 individuals were recorded with this last name, with the majority living in Detroit.
In Australia, Schmelewski is relatively rare, and traced back to a single immigration of the family in the 1880s. The family was originally from Silesia, Poland, and the Federal Census of Australia in 1991 documented a total of 16 individuals living in the country who shared the Schmelewski surname.
In Canada, Schmelewski is particularly common in Saskatchewan. This is thanks in part to two brothers, Franz and Joseph Schmelewski, who immigrated to Canada in 1923. They helped found the town of Lomond, just south of North Battleford. Since then, Schmelewskis from both Canada and Poland have settled around this area.
Finally, Schmelewski is also found in England, although far less so than in other countries and only present in areas such as London, Kent, and Lancashire.
Variations of the surname Schmelewski
The surname Schmelewski is likely of German, Polish or Jewish origins. It can be spelled in different ways, including Schmelewski, Schmelewsky, Schmelevski, Schmielowski and Schmulewski. It is also sometimes spelled as Shmelewsky, Shmelevsky and Schmelevsky.
In German, the name Schmelewski is sometimes spelled Schmelevski. This is the original spelling of the name, as it is derived from the German word schmelz, meaning "melt". The suffix -ewski, -owski or -sky is a Slavic patronymic suffix, indicating the name is derived from the paternal line.
In Polish, the surname is usually spelled Schmelewski or Schmielowski. The suffix -owski is typically used in Polish to indicate a surname derived from a place name.
In Jewish culture, the surname is commonly spelled Schmelewski, Schmelevsky or Shmelevsky. This spelling is likely a combination of German and Hebrew roots, as the Hebrew translation of "melt" would be "smol".
Finally, some variants of the surname can be found spelled as Schmulewski or Shmelewsky. The suffix -lew is typically used to indicate a surname derived from a first name.
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No matter which spelling is used, all of these variant surnames originate from the same source and mean "one who melts". The various spellings of the surname Schmelewski reflect the diverse cultures from which it is derived.
Famous people with the name Schmelewski
- Frank Schmelewski: actor, known for small roles in films like Ghostbusters, The Falcon and the Snowman, and One Lonely Night.
- Hank Schmelewski: former National League baseball pitcher.
- Fred Schmelewski: longserving US Army general.
- Pete Schmelewski: American music producer and composer who has worked on films, television shows, and video games.
- Bill Schmelewski: former professional ice hockey player with the New Jersey Devils.
- Ray Schmelewski: former American football coach who twice served as head coach in the NCAA.
- John Schmelewski: successful American entrepreneur, founder of companies such as SuperSmarte and StartRight.
- Paul Schmelewski: Academy Award winning cinematographer and director.
- Judy Schmelewski: a prominent academic in the field of Media Studies.
- Trudy Schmelewski: award winning pastry chef and cookbook author.