Surname Schmelzlin - Meaning and Origin
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Schmelzlin: What does the surname Schmelzlin mean?
The last name Schmelzlin is derived from the Middle High German word ‘Schmelz’ which translates to ‘melt’ or ‘soften’. It is thought to have been an occupational name for a tin smelter, or someone who melted down tin ore to make objects such as tools or weapons. The surname could have also been derived from the Middle High German word ‘schmezl’ which translates to ‘clerk’, suggesting that the original bearer of the name could have been someone who kept accounts or held a writing office.
As a surname, Schmelzlin is found primarily in the German-speaking regions of Europe, however, it can also be found in other parts of Europe like The Netherlands and New Zealand.
Spelling variations of the Schmelzlin last name include Schmell, Schmalz, Schmezle, and Schmelt.
The Schmelzlin last name is considered to be of German or Dutch origin, but a number of families have adopted the surname throughout Europe over the years. This is mostly due to the many emigrations of Germans and Dutch to other countries during the decades following the Second World War, the effects of which are still felt today.
The Schmelzlin family is one of many families whose surnames have displayed their occupations and adaptations to their environments. A knowledge of the origin of one’s surname is often important for piecing together the history of a family and its migratory patterns.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmelzlin: Where does the name Schmelzlin come from?
The last name Schmelzlin is most commonly found in Germany today. Although the name originated in Switzerland, many of the Schmelzlins immigrated to Germany in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. According to data from the Central Office for Genealogy in Germany, the surname is most common in the central and southern regions of Germany. It is particularly prevalent in Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse.
The Schmelzlin name is derived from the old German words “schmelz” meaning “melt” and “lin” meaning “line”. This indicates that the family likely originated in a place where the salt industry was of importance. Indeed, many records list Schmelzlins as working in the salt industry in places like Idar-Oberstein along the Nahe River in Germany. Salt extraction likely played a big role in the family’s migration from Switzerland to Germany.
The spelling of the name wasn’t always Schmelzlin either. Over the centuries, variations of the Schmelz name have included Schmeltzlin, Schmalzlin, Schmelzlein, and Smelzlin, with the spelling of Schmelzlin becoming the standard in modern times. It is likely that the surname was changed torepresent changing dialects and to match the spelling in others’ records. Nowadays, the name continues to appear mostly in Germany, but can also be seen in neighbouring countries such as Austria and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Schmelzlin
Schmelzlin is a German surname that has many different spellings and variants, as well as several related surnames derived from the same origin.
Schmelzlin is the most common spelling of the surname and it is derived from the German word "Schmelz," which means molten metal or to melt down.
Variations of the name Schmelzlin include Schmelzin, Schmeltzlin, Schmeltzin, Schmelzlahn, Schmelzle, Schmelzlehn, Schmezlin, Schmelzel, Schmelzler, Schmelzley, Schmelzlinger, and Schmelzloh.
Schmelzling is another form of the surname that shares the same origin.
Related surnames of Schmelzlin include Schmelz, Schmeltz, Schmeltzer, Schmolz, Schmolzer, Schmelzer, Schmeizl, and Schmaltz.
Most of the surnames are derived from the word Schmelz, which means to melt or to refine metals. This is most likely an occupational name for someone who works in metallurgy.
Other variants of the Schmelzlin surname, such as Schemelz, Smelz, Smeltz, Smailz, and Smeltzer, may also be derived from the related German word "schmelz," although it is not known if they are related to the Schmelzlin surname.
The surname Schmelzlin has been in Germany for centuries, but it is now common throughout Europe, North America, and South America.
Famous people with the name Schmelzlin
- John Schmelzlin: A Paralympic boxer from the United States.
- Mark Schmelzlin: A former Nebraska Cornhusker football player.
- Paul Schmelzlin: An American aviator and inventor of the Schmelz Speeder, a limited-production aircraft of the 1920s.
- Natalie Schmelzlin: A modern artist based in Berlin.
- Johann Schmelzlin: An eighteenth-century German organist and composer.
- James Schmelzlin: An American actor, most noted for his roles in television comedy.
- Claude Schmelzlin: An industrialist and philanthropist in the late nineteenth century.
- Erich Schmelzlin: A Swiss-born racer, winning multiple events in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
- Yvonne Schmelzlin: A South African poet and playwright.
- Peter Schmelzlin: A Swiss-born skier, winning multiple events in the 1970s and 1980s.