Surname Schmerse - Meaning and Origin
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Schmerse: What does the surname Schmerse mean?
The last name Schmerse is a German surname, sometimes spelled Schmörs or Schmörses. It is a habitational name derived from a place called Schmers in today's Lower Saxony state of Germany. The name likely derives from the words "schmar" or "schibar", which refer to the area's hilly terrain. Additionally, it could have also derived from a personal name spelled "Schimers" or "Schimorus".
The Schmerse surname is believed to have first appeared in records during the 16th century. It was derived from an estate, located in the Westphalia region, which was owned by the Schmerse family. Later on the family spread out throughout the region and many moved to different parts of Germany.
The Schmerse name continues to be found in Germany today mainly in Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Northern Hesse. The name has also spread throughout the globe with large numbers of people mainly found in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Some common characteristics of people with the Schmerse surname include being determined, reliable, driven, and hard-working. The Schmerse name is often linked to people working in the law, finance, and government industries.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmerse: Where does the name Schmerse come from?
The last name Schmerse is most commonly found in Germany today. A large majority of the Schmerse family can be traced to the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. It is believed that the Schmerse family originally hails from the area around Pforzheim in the Enz district in Baden-Württemberg. The family was first recorded in surnames in the area in the mid-17th century.
The Schmerse family is also found in other parts of Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Austria. The Schmerse spelling used in these countries has changed slightly over time from its German roots.
The Schmerse family is also present in the United States. The first identified Schmerse to arrive in America were Johann Schmerse and Ernst Schmeerse, who arrived in St Louis, MO in the late 1800s. They were both born in Germany.
The Schmerse family still present in Germany today has mostly been concentrated in Enz since the mid-17th century. The majority of today's members of the Schmerse family can still be found in Baden-Württemberg.
Variations of the surname Schmerse
The surname Schmerse is a name of German origin, deriving from the German word 'Schmerz', meaning 'pain'. As such, it is thought to have originally been an occupational name for someone who provided medical care or trephination - the cutting of a hole in the skull to relieve pressure on the brain.
Variants and spellings of the surname Schmerse include the German name Schmerze, Schmerzer or Schmerz, as well as the Polish names Smarsz and Szmarsz, the Dutch name Smers and the Czech name Smyrsky.
It is also a popular Jewish surname, derived from the German term Schmeer, meaning 'spread', as it was given as a nickname to a person believed to be a banker or moneylender. Variants and spellings of the surname Schmerse include the Yiddish names Smersh, Shmersh, Smerod and Shmerser, as well as the Hebrew name Shmayesh.
In Great Britain, the surname has been adapted to the English spelling 'Smashers', which is believed to have been given as a localised version of the original German leading to many new surnames. Other variants and spellings of the original name Schmerse found in Great Britain include Shmers, Shmerse and Schmersch, as well as 'Smiers' which is a variant of the original Yiddish name.
Surnames of the same origin as Schmerse include Smarsh, Smars, Shmers, Smersh, Smerod, Smers, Smiers, Smarsz, Szmarsz, Shmerz, Schmerzer, Shmayesh, Shmerser, Smeshers and Schmersch.
Famous people with the name Schmerse
- Brigitte Schmerse: German correspondent for Spiegel Online
- Björn Schmerse: Director of Germany's Goethe Institute
- Jörg Schmerse: German footballer
- Stefan Schmerse: German Paralympic shooter
- Andre Schmerse: German professor of physics at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Mark Schmerse: German Judo champion
- Anne Schmerse: German politician, Member of the European Parliament
- Thomas Schmerse: German actor and musical theatre performer
- Michael Schmerse: German politician, Cabinet Member of Bavaria
- Mathias Schmerse: German wrestler
- Susanne Schmerse: German writer and artist
- Jana Schmerse: German Olympic athlete
- Florian Schmerse: German president of the Federal Patent Court
- Ulf Schmerse: German Managing Director of software firm WedoSoft GmbH
- Philip Schmerse: German photographer and filmmaker