Surname Schmidge - Meaning and Origin
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Schmidge: What does the surname Schmidge mean?
The origin and meaning of the last name Schmidge are uncertain. It is believed to come from the Germanic or Aramaic language, and is often associated with the surname “Schmidt”. In English, "Schmidge" is sometimes translated as "Son of the smith".
It may have been derived from the Old High German word "smitan", which means "to shape metal", or the Middle High German word "schmidem", which means "blacksmith". It is thought that the surname may have been a occupational name for a blacksmith in the Medieval period.
A more modern interpretation of the meaning of the last name Schmidge is that it relates to the Dutch word "schmiden", which translates to "to trim, or ornament". This may have been used to denote a skilled silversmith, or another type of craftsperson who worked with metals to create items of beauty.
It is also possible that the name Schmidge could be related to another surname with a similar spelling, "Schmeichler", which is a German name meaning "crafter".
In any case, the origin of the last name Schmidge is uncertain, but most scholars believe it to be related to a craftsperson of some sort, either a blacksmith, a silversmith, or another type of metallurgist.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmidge: Where does the name Schmidge come from?
The last name Schmidge is most commonly found in England today. According to the British Surnames Association, it ranks as the 12,412th most common surname in England. The name is believed to be of Germanic and Dutch origin, and the earliest recorded instance of it dates back to 1273 in the East Midlands region of England. It is thought that the name may have come to England from German-speaking areas of Europe in the 13th century during the Middle Ages.
Scmidge is most often found in the East Midlands of England, particularly in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. It can also be found in other regions of England, such as North West England and South East England, as well as further afield, including Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
The first recorded spelling of Schmidge this spelling was in 1273. There are several variations of the name, including Schmid, Schmidts, Smidge and Schmiede.
There is a small community of Schmidge's in the United States, mainly in the states of California, New York and Texas, but Schmidge remains a rare name in America. It is, however, much more common in Europe, with a significant presence in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. So it is likely that the last name Schmidge is descended from an individual who moved from Europe to England during the Middle Ages.
Variations of the surname Schmidge
The surname Schmidge originates from the Germanic language and is used as a surname and a given name. It is most commonly spelled Schmidge, but can also be seen as Shmidge, Schmeiss, Schmiedge, Schmiede, Shmiedge, and Shmiede. The spelling variations of the Schmidge surname follow the same principles of other surnames of Germanic origin with phonetic variations. For example, Shmiedge and Shmiede borrows from the German 'Schmied' meaning smith. Other variations are related to the German dialects.
The surname is also found in Yiddish, where it is spelled Shmidke, Shmike, and Shmydge. In Dutch, it is seen as Smidge or Smitge. It can also be found spelled as Scheedje and Smigge in France, Smidje and Smijdje in Belgium. In Scandinavia, variations include Schmigel, Schmiggel, Smittel, and Smiggel.
Other variant spellings can be seen based on the phonetic pronunciation of this surname. These include: Schmeej, Schiedj, Schmieds, Smetts, Smits, and Schmids.
In short, Schmidge is an originally Germanic surname found with many variants in different languages and dialects. While the most common spelling seen is Schmidge, any of the above spellings could be used depending on the language and dialect the person is from.
Word Count: 200
Famous people with the name Schmidge
- Mayim Bialik– Actress and neuroscientist famously known for her role in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
- Amy Schmidge– Former ice dance competitor at the World Championships who's also a coach.
- Jacob Schmidge– Award-winning film composer.
- Teddy Schmidge– Musician and the founder of the Los Angeles-based country rock group, Teddy Schmidge and the Wild Heavens.
- Gary Schmidge– American basketball coach, who was the head coach of the University of Guam from 2006 to 2011.
- Bruce Schmidge– Olympic rower and member of the University of Washington's eight-man boat that won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
- Irene Schmidge– Broadway star who rose to fame in the 1960s.
- Larry Schmidge– World-renowned sculptor and painter who creates works that contemplate the impact of technology and progress on society.
- Rob Schmidge– Stand-up comedian and actor, best known for his roles on the cult sketch-comedy show, Totally Ace.
- Jody Schmidge– Award-winning news anchor on the cable news channel, NewsLite.