Surname Schmeltzer - Meaning and Origin

Schmeltzer: What does the surname Schmeltzer mean?

Schmeltzer is a German surname originating from the Middle High German word 'smeltzer', which means 'melter' or 'smelter'. It was traditionally an occupational surname given to people who were involved in the profession of smelting, melting, and alloying metals. Surnames were often derived from a person's occupation in middle ages, giving a clear indication of their profession. It's also possible that the name Schmeltzer may have been given to people living near smelting works. Variations of the surname include Schmelter, Schmelzer, and Smeltzer. Like most German surnames, the exact significance can vary, as the spelling and meaning of last names often evolved over centuries. Today, individuals with the surname Schmeltzer can be found in many countries throughout the world, although it remains most common in Germany.

Schmeltzer: Where does the name Schmeltzer come from?

The surname Schmeltzer is most commonly found in Germany today, along with other countries in Central Europe including Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Records from the 1800s document the prominent migration of Schmeltzers to America, where they were highly concentrated in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The Schmeltzer surname is thought to have originated hundreds of years ago as an occupational name for one who works with metals. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'schmelzen', which translates to 'to melt'. This word was used to describe the process of changing metals into instruments or tools.

Today, the Schmeltzer name is most commonly found in Germany, where data from the Central Statistics Office show that there are over 1700 registrations with the surname. It is closely linked to the Jewish community, with most Schmeltzers living in the German provinces of Saxony and Bavaria.

In the United States, the surname is likely to have been adapted and changed to Sheinfelder; it is estimated that at least 790 households in the country carry this name. The surname is also commonly found in Israel, with the largest concentration of the name in the cities of Jerusalem and Lod.

Variations of the surname Schmeltzer

The Schmeltzer surname is of German origin and can have many different spellings and variants. Some of the most common variants and spellings are Schmelz, Schmelt, Schmelzle, Schmie, Schmele and Schmeltz.

The surname Schmeltzer is also believed to be an anglicized version of the German surname Schmelzer, with Schmelzer being the most common spelling version. The Schmeltzer spelling is most commonly found in records from the United States, while the Schmelzer spelling is more common in German-speaking countries.

Other variants of Schmeltzer and Schmelzer include Shmelz, Smeltz, Smeltzer, Smelzer and Smelce. These spellings are more commonly found among Jewish immigrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Additionally, there are several variant surnames that share a similar origin with Schmeltzer and Schmelzer. These include: Schmalz, Schmaltz, Schmeer, Schmehl, Smelser, Schmoll, Scholl, Schouler, Schuler, and Schuller. Although these surnames may share a common language origin, most of them also have unique meanings or histories behind them. For example, the surname Schmaltz is derived from the German word for "butter," while the surname Schmoll is derived from the German word for "sour."

Finally, there are also many closely related surnames that are derived from words with similar meanings, such as Smaletz, Smalecen, Smole, Smola, Schlenderer, and Schnurrer.

Famous people with the name Schmeltzer

• Aaron Schmeltzer: An American actor, writer, and director who has been in several films and television shows, such as NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Bones.
• Kyle Schmeltzer: A professional golfer from Dayton, Ohio, who most recently competed in the 2019 PGA Tour Latinoamérica.
• Mike Schmeltzer: A German-American professional wrestler and manager who was known as 'The Midget Master'.
• Noah Schmeltzer: A jazz guitarist originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, who has collaborated with a host of other jazz, blues, and rock players since the late 1990s.
• Peter Schmeltzer: An American-German independent film director and producer based in Toronto whose films have been featured in festivals worldwide.
• Ashley Schmeltzer: A former beauty pageant winner competing in Miss Ohio USA in 2018 and winning the Miss Congeniality Award.
• Steve Schmeltzer: A retired professional ice hockey player who played for several teams in the NHL including the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals.
• Cody Schmeltzer: A former professional soccer player from West Chester, Pennsylvania who last played for USL Championship team Louisville City FC in 2016.
• Bob Schmeltzer: An aerospace engineering consultant who has a long history of working with a variety of organizations and companies in space and aircraft engineering.
• Daniel Schmeltzer: A professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, whose research focuses on catalytic methods of organic synthesis.

Other surnames

SchmeltgerSchmeltzarSchmeltzleSchmeltzpfennigSchmeltzpfenning