Surname Schmitges - Meaning and Origin

Schmitges: What does the surname Schmitges mean?

The last name Schmitges is derived from an old Germanic personal name derived from the Germanic elements of smid/schmied 'smith' and ger/gari 'spear’. The name was used to denote a smith who made spears, and it was common in the Middle Ages among Germanic-speaking peoples. It is believed that Schmitges is the actual spelling of the name, as it has more closely paralleled its Germanic roots.

The Schmitges family name is commonly thought to have first been found in the regions of the former Holy Roman Empire, which encompassed much of what is now modern day Germany and Austria. This is no surprise, as Schmitges was popularly used as a surname in those regions during the Middle Ages. It has specifically been found in German and Austrian records dating back to the early part of the 16th century, such as the records of Johann Schmitges in 1516 and Christoffer Schmitges in 1550.

The Schmitges family became members of nobility, with the name being given the title of baron and baroness, depending on the regional title given (Freiherr, Edelherr, Reichsfürst, or Erbherr). This was due to the fact that many members of the Schmitges family owned large amounts of land, particularly in the Rhineland area of Germany.

Schmitges has survived in various forms over the years. Variations of the name, such as Schmidtges, Schmidtke, Schmidke, and Schmiedke, can still be found in some parts of Germany and Austria today. The Schmitges family’s roots may be traced back to the Middle Ages, when the art of smithing and crafting spears was a highly sought-after skill, resulting in the distinctive surname becoming a well-known one throughout Germany’s regions.

Schmitges: Where does the name Schmitges come from?

The last name Schmitges is a very unique surname that is most commonly found in the western and south-western parts of Germany. It is believed to have originated in the region of Westphalia, which is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Originally, the Schmitges surname was derived from two words, "schmit" and "ges", which means smith and family, respectively.

Today, the surname is most commonly found in the towns of Cologne and Erkelenz, located in the western part of Germany, and the towns of Oberhausen and Mulheim, located in the south-western part of Germany.

In the United States, the Schmitges surname is not found as often; however, it can be found throughout Texas and in certain areas of Oklahoma, California, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. Interestingly, records indicate that the Schmitges surname first immigrated to the US with three brothers from Germany in the late 19th century.

In addition, Schmitges is also a common last name found throughout Canada's provinces, such as Quebec and Ontario as well as many parts of England.

Overall, the distinction of the Schmitges surname is derived from the combination of the smithy craftsmanship and familial loyalty of Westphalia, Germany. Though not as common in the United States as in the western and south-western parts of Germany, the Schmitges name is still strongly represented all over the world.

Variations of the surname Schmitges

The surname Schmitges is of German origin, and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variants of this surname are Schmidtges, Schmidges, Schmidgess, Schmitsges, Schmitzens, Schmidgess, Schmidtging and Schmitzius. Other variants of this name include Schmiedges, Schmidgings, and Schmitzing.

Variations of the spelling of this surname include Schmetges, Schmidgis, Schmitzig, Schmetzes and Schmidtgers. Alternatives to this surname are Schmidtgen, Schmidgen, Schmitzgen, and Schmitzen.

These are all surnames derived from the Middle High German word ‘smith', referring to a blacksmith. The surname Schmitges could also be derived from the Old High German word ‘schmied’, meaning smith. This surname is most likely of rural origin, as the majority of bearers of this surname originated from a rural setting.

The surname Schmitges can also be found in several other countries, such as America, Mexico, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, and France. In all of these countries, the spelling variations of Schmitges remain the same.

Overall, the surname Schmitges has a variety of different spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variants, spellings, and other derivatives of this surname can be found throughout Europe and the Americas, all derived from the Middle High German word 'smith'.

Famous people with the name Schmitges

• Paul Schmitges: German entrepreneur and founding director of Münster-City-Energie GmbH
• Joe Schmitges: Former professional cyclist
• Jean-Marie Schmitges: Luxembourg lawyer and politician
• Georg Schmitges: West German bobsledder who competed in the late 1950's and early 1960's
• Fernando Schmitges: Spanish actor
• Dorothea Schmitges: South African politician
• Siegfried Schmitges: German journalist, radio moderator and reading actor
• Cyprien Schmitges: Luxembourgish Roman Catholic theologian
• Klemens Schmitges: German footballer
• Chris Schmitges: American volleyball and beach volleyball player

Other surnames

Schmitgen