Surname Schmidkunz - Meaning and Origin

Schmidkunz: What does the surname Schmidkunz mean?

The surname Schmidkunz is an old German name which originated in the late middle ages and has roots in Bavaria. The name comes from the words Schmid, meaning "smith" or "blacksmith," and Kunz, being a diminutive form of the name Conrad which was popular among nobility in the region at the time. Put together, Schmidkunz roughly translates to mean "little smith."

In Germany at the time, the surname was rather rare and was associated with a few prominent families. By the mid nineteenth century, the Schmidkunz family had spread throughout Poland and Russia. After World War II, many members of the family emigrated to the United States and settled mainly in areas of the Midwest, the East Coast, and California.

Today, the surname Schmidkunz is not too prevalent. Those who share the name are mostly descendants of the original Schmidkunz families of Bavaria, and likely have ancestors who both lived and worked as smiths during the middle ages.

A mystery still remains surrounding the surname's origin, though it is likely that the first Schmidkunz was either a skilled smith or someone of nobility who adopted the name as an homage to their trade. Whatever the case, the Schmidkunz surname will forever be associated with strength and craftsmanship.

Schmidkunz: Where does the name Schmidkunz come from?

The last name Schmidkunz is most common in Germany. According to records, most of the Schmidkunz family live in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

In the United States, there are fewer Schmidkunz, but they are scattered throughout the country. The 2017 US census reported about 600 Schmidkunz households nationwide, primarily concentrated in the southern states of California, Illinois, and New York. The most recent US census data indicated that there were about 1,650 individual Schmidkunz living in the US in 2017.

However, the Schmidkunz name can be found in other countries around the world. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Poland, also have families with the last name Schmidkunz.

The origin of the Schmidkunz name is believed to be from the German “Schmid” meaning “Smith.” In addition, “Kunz” was a prefix to German family names that originated in Medieval times, and may have been used to distinguish one family from another.

Since the Schmidkunz family has scattered around the world, people with the last name are likely to find others with the same name in many places. It is likely that family members in the US, Germany, Canada, and elsewhere, may not even be aware of their relatives in other countries. As the family has grown and spread around the world, its members have left a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Schmidkunz

Schmidkunz is a German surname derived from the word schmid, meaning "smith". This surname is found primarily in the German-speaking countries of Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is also found in the United States.

Variant spellings of Schmidkunz are Schmittkunz, Schmidtkunz, and Schmitkunz. Surnames of similar origin are Schmied, Schmieder, Schmiedl, and Schmiedt.

Schmitt and Schmidt are the most common variant spellings of Schmidkunz. These surnames originated from the German word schmied, meaning "smith". They are primarily found in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Schmid, Schmiede, Schmieder, Schmittel, Schmiedl, and Schmiedt are other variants of Schmitt and Schmidt, and are found in the same areas.

Schmidt can also be spelt with a single ‘d’ in some cases. This variation is found most frequently in the Netherlands. It can also be spelled without the ‘t’ in some cases. This variant is most commonly found in Switzerland and Austria.

The surnames Schmidkunz, Schmitt, Schmittkunz, Schmidtkunz, Schmitkunz, Schmid, Schmiede, Schmieder, Schmittel, Schmiedl, and Schmiedt all have the same origin and all refer to a “smith” or a “metalworker”.

Famous people with the name Schmidkunz

• Lena Schmidkunz: Lena Schmidkunz is a German TV host, known best for her roles on the show YoTV.
• Helmut Schmidkunz: Helmut Schmidkunz is a German film editor known for his work on the hit TV series The Black Adder and for his collaborations with famed director Wolfgang Petersen.
• Peter Schmidkunz: Peter Schmidkunz is a German actor and writer, best known for his role in the miniseries Life Is a Beach and his film How About Europe.
• Michael Schmidkunz: Michael Schmidkunz is a German lawyer and politician, belonging to the Free Democratic Party since 1995.
• Carsten Schmidkunz: Carsten Schmidkunz is a former German international footballer who played as a winger for multiple teams, including Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen.
• Georg Schmidkunz: Georg Schmidkunz is a former German bobsledder who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
• Frank Schmidkunz: Frank Schmidkunz is a German industrial designer and interdisciplinary artist, known for created works such as his iconic Bauhaus-style metal chairs.
• Max Schmidkunz: Max Schmidkunz was a German athlete and alpine ski racer, who competed in two Winter Olympic Games in Calgary and Albertville before being tragically killed in an avalanche in 1991.
• Hans-Jürgen Schmidkunz: Hans-Jürgen Schmidkunz is a former German professional ice hockey player who played for multiple teams in his hockey career.
• Christoph Schmidkunz: Christoph Schmidkunz is a former German rugby union player and the current managing director of the German Rugby Federation.

Other surnames

SchmidkeSchmidkoSchmidkonz