Surname Schmieden - Meaning and Origin
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Schmieden: What does the surname Schmieden mean?
The last name Schmieden is of German origin. It is derived from the German word for smith, or smithy, which is Schmied. The surname, therefore, likely indicated an ancestor who was a blacksmith.
In ancient societies, blacksmiths were highly regarded, as they had the skills to make various tools and weapons, but also items such as nails and horseshoes. With the forging of metals, blacksmiths were also responsible for creating ornaments and jewellery. In addition to their craftsmanship, blacksmiths needed to be strong and have good eye-hand coordination.
Throughout the centuries, some of the earliest known bearers of the Schmieden surname are Johann ("John") Schmieden, who lived in 1572 in Maintz, Germany, and Holgar Sean Eberhard Schmieden, who lived in 1737 in Brandenburg, Germany.
Today, the surname Schmieden is still widely held in Germany and other parts of Europe, and is also common in the United States and in other parts of the world. In modern times, the surname may be used to denote descendants of blacksmiths or related crafts, although with the advancement of industrialization, fewer people have taken up the trade.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmieden: Where does the name Schmieden come from?
The last name Schmieden is most common today in Germany and Austria. According to data from Forebears, a genealogy research website, Schmieden is ranked 46,426 in terms of surname popularity in Germany and 28,122 in Austria. This makes the name one of the more unusual and uncommon surnames in both countries.
The name Schmieden has Germanic origins and likely evolved from the Middle High German words “schmide” or “schmeide”, which both mean “smithy” or “forge”. It may refer to a person who is employed as a blacksmith or craftsperson during the medieval times.
Because of its connection to metalworking, the name may have initially been derived from occupational surname, a type of last name which indicated the trade of a father or ancestor. It is also possible that the name came from the place of origin.
Today, the Schmieden surname is most strongly associated with German and Austrian culture, although it may still exist in other European countries and beyond. It is often accompanied by regional variations of spelling, such as Schmeiden or Schmeeden. The number of people with the last name Schmieden continues to remain small, however, and the name is still considered quite rare.
Variations of the surname Schmieden
Schmieden is a German surname, and is spelled similarly in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch, Scandinavian, and Gothic, as well as Yiddish. The most common variants of Schmieden are: Schmied, Schmiedt, Schmieder, Schmiedl, Schmiedmann, and Schmiedler.
In non-Germanic languages, the most common variant of Schmieden is Smith, which originated as an Old English occupational name. Smiths were usually blacksmiths and often had the additional occupational names Lux, Kettle, and Fabricius. Smith is also a common Jewish surname in the United States, often transliterated from Yiddish languages. Smith, Smit, Smethurst, Smyth, and Smithe are all variations of this surname.
In the Netherlands, the surname is often spelled Schmeits, Schmeit, Schmeits, Schmeed, Schmeede, Schmeer, or Schmit. In France, it is typically spelled Schmid or Schmidt. The Polish version is Szmidt or Szymta.
In addition to the various spellings, Schmieden is often developed into the surnames Schmiedgen, Schmiedsbach, Schmieder, or Schmiedhammer. All of these surnames have the same root elements of "Schmied" (meaning "blacksmith") and "-en" (indicating a plural), and share a possible meaning of having multiple blacksmiths in the family.
Famous people with the name Schmieden
- Jennifer Schmieden: A German professional showjumper and equestrian.
- Konrad Schmieden: A German fur trader and trader in the 19th century.
- Siem Schmieden: A Dutch painter in the early 20th century known for his fantasy-inspired seascapes.
- Hermann Schmieden: A famous Austrian landscape painter in the late 19th century.
- Georg Schmieden: A famous German engineer and the inventor of the internal combustion engine.
- Maria von Schmieden: A famous German harpsichordist and musicologist in the 18th century.
- Ferdinand Schmieden: A famous German landscape painter in the 18th century.
- Heinrich Schmieden: A well-known German physician in the 19th century.
- Carl Schmieden: A famous German physicist and chemist in the early 20th century.
- Jakob Schmieden: A Prussian major-general and commander of the Prussian Army during the Seven Years' War.