Surname Schmitke - Meaning and Origin
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Schmitke: What does the surname Schmitke mean?
The last name Schmitke is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word smittiche, meaning "smith." This likely indicates an ancestor of this family were a blacksmith and the name originated as an occupational surname in the 1500s.
The earliest known member of the Schmitke family is Johann Schmitke, who was born in 1597 and lived in Herrenhausen. The Schmitkes spread to different provinces in Germany over the centuries, eventually landing in Germany's biggest cities. Over the years, Schmitke branched off into various variations of the same name, such as Schmitkuhl, Schmidtke, and Schniedehorst.
The Schmitke family most likely took their name from a profession, but it is entirely possible that it was intentionally coined to sound like any of the common smith surnames, such as Smith and Schmidt, both which were already far more prevalent. All of the surnames are believed to ultimately have the same root, and it is difficult to determine which came first.
Today, Schmitke is still fairly common in some parts of Germany, but can also be found in various other parts of Europe, as well as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It usually serves as a reminder of ancestral ties to the fifteenth century, when many people began to adopt a systematic name-giving system.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmitke: Where does the name Schmitke come from?
The last name Schmitke is most commonly found in Germany today. According to Forebears, it is found within a few hundred kilometers of the town of Schwerin in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It is one of the most commonly found surnames in the state, ranking in the top 200.
The name is believed to have originally been derived from the name Schmidt, derived from the Middle High German word schmid, meaning "blacksmith". The name Schmitke appears to the angry diminutive form of Schmidt, which was used as a nickname for an argumentative or bad-tempered person.
The name spread to other countries throughout Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to Germany, it is also commonly found in Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, and Austria. In the United States, the surname can be found in states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and California.
The Schmitke family name is a testament to the great immigration history of Europe, as great numbers of Germans and other Europeans moved to different regions throughout the world in search of opportunity. Today, it is a reminder of the bonds of culture and language that bind us all together and make us part of that great human family.
Variations of the surname Schmitke
The surname Schmitke is a German surname of patronymic origin, derived from the personal name Schmied, which is derived from the medieval Germanic word ‘smid’ meaning ‘smith’. Variants of the surname Schmitke include Schmidke, Schmidk, Schmid, Schmitt, Smith, Metzger, Mueller, and Maurer.
Spellings of the surname Schmitke include Schmidke, Schmitke, Schmidk, Schmid, Smidke and Smidk. Several forms of these spellings are also found in countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, America, Canada, and Australia.
Schmidtke is often an East-Prussian spelling of the surname Schmitke, and Smith is the English version of the same surname. The surname Schmidke sometimes appears in records as Schemidke or Schemidke, and is often used interchangeably with Schmidk or Schmid.
The surname Metzger is derived from the German word “Metzger”, meaning “butcher”. This surname was sometimes adopted by members of the Schmitke family who were skilled butcher and hunted game for a living.
The surname Mueller is derived from the Middle High German word “Müller”, meaning “miller”. This surname is often adopted by many members of the Schmitke family who were laborers and worked at the local mills.
Finally, the surname Maurer is derived from the Middle High German word “Mauer”, meaning “stonemason”, and is often adopted by members of the Schmitke family who worked as a stonemason and were involved in stonework.
Famous people with the name Schmitke
- Wolfgang Schmitke: German football player, played for the national team in the 1970s.
- Richard Schmitke: World War II submariner and member of the French Foreign Legion who was awarded the Legion of Honor.
- Maurice Schmitke: Professional cello player who was a member of the French National Orchestra.
- Eduard Schmitke: 19th century Russian writer, the author of two novels.
- Ortwin Schmitke: German audiologist and professor of hearing aid disagnostics at the University of Applied Sciences in Berlin.
- Chris Schmitke: American actor, appearing in numerous films and TV shows during the 1980s and 1990s.
- Claudia Schmitke: German journalist and radio presenter.
- Günther Schmitke: German missionary and theologian who spent over 20 years in Nigeria.
- Joseph Schmitke: 19th century German artist, known for his religious paintings and sculptures.
- Peter Schmitke: German businessman and entrepreneur, co-founder of several software companies.