Surname Schmetgens - Meaning and Origin

Schmetgens: What does the surname Schmetgens mean?

The German surname Schmetgens is derived from the Low German word "smetgen," which refers to a much-needed smith or blacksmith. It is largely concentrated in the lower Rhineland region of Germany, although people with the surname Schmetgens can be found elsewhere throughout Europe and beyond.

The original "Smetgen" may have been an occupational name denoting someone who worked with metal, likely creating or mending weapons and tools. Alternatively, according to Surnamedb.com, it may refer to someone who carved gravestones and monuments, as "Smetgen" can also refer to a mason. It is likely to have originated with a particular person who displayed craftsmanlike skills and who then passed on the name to his descendants.

Today, people with the surname Schmetgens are most commonly found living in Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. In some parts of Germany they are an old, respected family name that goes back many centuries. The prevalence of the name within these countries indicates that Schmetgens is a well-rooted surname.

Overall, the Schmetgens surname is likely to have its origins in a craftsperson, one who may have worked with metal, masonry, or even both. It is an old surname that still persists, being found in countries with close ties to Germany such as the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Schmetgens: Where does the name Schmetgens come from?

The last name Schmetgens is a German surname and is likely derived from the German “schmette”, which means something akin to “craftsman”. This would indicate that the family likely had a long history of artisanal skills. Today, the surname Schmetgens is still a fairly common German last name, especially in Germany’s western region of Rhineland-Palatinate. It also appears in the surrounding German states of Saarland, Lower Saxony, and Hesse. As far as outside of Germany, the surname is quite common in the Netherlands, with some scattered occurrences in other countries such as the United States, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Counties with higher-than-average numbers of Schmetgens include certain German cities such as Cologne, Limburg, Duisburg, and Trier, as well as Dutch cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It’s possible to trace the spread of the name Schmetgens over the centuries, as spelling and regional variations of the name were recorded in various archives throughout Germany and the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Schmetgens

Schmetgens is a patronymic surname that originated from German-speaking regions of Europe. It is derived from the personal name Schmette, which is a diminutive of the Germanic name Schmeto, meaning ‘clever’ or ‘cunning’. Schmetgens is also found written as Schmetgen, Schmetzgen, Schmetzen, Schmetzman, and Schmetzmanne, as well as other less common variants.

This same surname may be found in other countries in alternate spellings. For example, in the United States it can be spelled Schragg, Shragges, Shragers, Schmetgen, Schmitsgen, Shreges, Shmagges, Shraggs, and Schmess. In Poland and Lithuania it is found as Szmetgen, Szmetzen, Szmetzman and Szmetzmanne. In Holland, it can be found as Schmetsen, Schmetsman, Schmeijsen, Schmeysen, Schmittgen, Schmeijsman, Schmittzmann, Schmeggeg, and Schmetsmanne. In France it can be spelled Schmets and Schmits, while in Hungary it is found as Szmetzgen and Szmetzmann.

The surnames of similar origin to Schmetgens include Schmette, Schmeto, Schragg, Shragges, Shragers, Schmitsgen, Shreges, Shmagges, Shraggs, Szmetgen, Szmetzen, Szmetzman, Szmetzmanne, Schmetsen, Schmetsman, Schmeijsen, Schmeysen, Schmittgen, Schmeijsman, Schmittzmann, Schmeggeg, Schmetsmanne, Schmets, Schmits, Szmetzgen, Szmetzmann, Schmezgen, Schmetsgens, Schmetsmann, Schmitsgens, and Schmitsmann.

Famous people with the name Schmetgens

• Karl Schmetgens: German journalist, television presenter and voice-over
• Arno Schmetgens: former German footballer
• Andrea Schmetgens: German singer
• Ursula Schmetgens: German actress
• Katharina Schmetgens: German author
• Jörg Schmetgens: German guitarist
• Bernhard Schmetgens: German actor
• Joachim Schmetgens: German actor
• Wolfgang Schmetgens: German painter
• Peter Schmetgens: German sculptor
• Klaus Schmetgens: German music producer
• Peter Schmetgens: German composer
• Marcel Schmetgens: German producer
• Lukas Schmetgens: German film director
• Anne Schmetgens: German director of photography
• Rainer Schmetgens: German neurologist
• Elisabeth Schmetgens: German radio presenter

Other surnames

Schmetgen