Surname Schmitfranz - Meaning and Origin
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Schmitfranz: What does the surname Schmitfranz mean?
The surname ‘Schmitfranz’ is derived from the German language and is a combination of two surnames; the first surname, ‘Schmidt’, is thought to have been derived from a personal name derived from a compound of the words ‘Schmied’ or ‘Schmiedel’, meaning "smith" or "blacksmith," along with ‘franz’, which is an old German short form of a personal name derived from the Latin word ‘Franciscus’, meaning "Frenchman". Thus, the surname 'Schmitfranz' indicates a person or family of someone who was either a blacksmith or had some connection with attention to detail and a craftsman-like approach.
This can be seen in some occurrences of usage of the surname, such as in the ‘Schmitfranz Wagon Works’, related to the manufacture and use of horse-drawn wagons and buggies, made of wood and metal. Examples of such wagons are kept in museums in a variety of places, such as the Early American Industry Museum in Sterling, New York.
In terms of genealogical record, Schmitfranz is used by individuals and families who trace their ancestry back to German-speaking countries. This is likely due to the fact that the surname Schmitfranz is derived from German. It is also possible that those who carry the surname also have links with Swiss, Austrian and Dutch descent.
In general, the surname Schmitfranz appears to reflect the persons’ affinity for craftsmanship in some way, along with their cultural or ancestral history, as the meaning of the combination of the two surnames reflect the country of origin: Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmitfranz: Where does the name Schmitfranz come from?
The last name Schmitfranz is a German surname. It originated in the Saxony region in the modern-day state of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. The name literally translates to "friend of the Franks," suggesting that the original bearer of the name had some association with ancient Franks. Today, the name is still relatively common in the area, particularly in cities like Aschersleben, Nordhausen, Saalfeld, and Quedlinburg. It is also found in other areas of Germany, mainly in the southeast corner, such as Bavaria. In addition, many bearers of the name have emigrated from Germany over the last several centuries and can be found all around the world, including the United States. In particular, many bearers of the name are based in Alsatia, a German-speaking region of France, and in Switzerland, where the language is predominantly German. In the United States, Schmitfranz is most concentrated in states with significant German populations, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Variations of the surname Schmitfranz
Schmitfranz is a relatively rare surname, and different spellings have become more widespread with the increased globalization of surnames. Variants of Schmitfranz can include the following spellings: Schmittfranz, Schmiedfranz, Schmiedefranz, Schmiedtand, Schmitzfranz, and Schmiedtfrans. It is also sometimes spelled with a 'z' or a 'd'.
The most common variant of the surname is Schmitzfranz, found mostly in German-speaking countries. A rarer form of the name, found primarily in the United States, is Schmiedefranz.
The Schmitfranz surname can be broken down into two components – schmit, which means to ‘bind or to cut’ in German, and franz, which is derived from the Latin name Franciscus, meaning ‘Frenchman.’ This suggests that the original bearer of the surname likely had a French ancestor.
The surname may also be a variant of the more common Germanic-origin surnames Schmitz and Schmitt. The name Schmitt is of occupational origin, deriving from the German word for craftsman or blacksmith, while the Schmitz surname is a patronymic of the German personal name Schmied, which refers to the same profession.
The surname Schmitfranz may also have come from the German word smek, which means ‘servant’ and may have referred to a household servant or a blacksmith’s assistant.
In addition to the various Schmitfranz spellings, variants of the same origin include Smitfranz and Schmiedfranz.
Famous people with the name Schmitfranz
- James Schmitfranz: former AFL/VFL AFL player who played for the Essendon Football Club in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Lindsay Schmitfranz: former All-American swimmer who was a member of the U.S. women's Olympic team in 1984.
- George Schmitfranz: former professional baseball player in the Negro Leagues from 1931 to 1947.
- Edith Schmitfranz: winner of two Emmy Awards for costume design in television
- John Schmitfranz: stage and film actor best known for his role in the 2006 Sci-Fi drama, Another Earth.
- Robert Schmitfranz: noted German-American architect who designed the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Building in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- Florian Schmitfranz: German composer and conductor, best known for his conductorship of the Munich Philharmonic and the symphony orchestra of the Wurzburg Theatre.
- Jennifer Schmitfranz: former professional volleyball player who was named the US Women's Volleyball Player of the Year in 1998.
- Melba Schmitfranz: award-winning Australian journalist and editor, who wrote for The Age and The Sun-Herald. 10.Udo Schmitfranz: German historian and professor at the University of Cologne, who specialises in European and global history.