Surname Schmits - Meaning and Origin
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Schmits: What does the surname Schmits mean?
The last name Schmits is a variation of the name Schmitt, which is a German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "schmid" meaning "smith" or "metalworker." As a result, the surname Schmits would have originally been used to identify people in medieval Germany who worked with metal, such as blacksmiths, farriers, locksmiths, tinsmiths, and many other craftspeople.
Throughout history, Schmits families have been concentrated in several places of Germany. During the Middle Ages, there were very large communities in Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. In the modern era, Schmits families are found in all parts of Germany.
As it gained popularity, the Schmits surname spread to other countries such as the Netherlands, where it is spelled Schmits, France, Luxembourg, and Belgium. It has also been brought to the United States and other countries by German immigrants.
The Schmits name has likely been around for centuries, but its exact origin is unknown. It's possible that the name was created to distinguish individuals within a community based on their crafts, relationships, or other qualities. Though the name is associated with the occupation of metalworking, it is now commonly used as a surname all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmits: Where does the name Schmits come from?
The last name Schmits is most commonly associated with the Netherlands, although it can be found throughout other parts of Europe. In the Netherlands, it is primarily concentrated in the southern region of the country, especially in and around the towns of Maastricht, Nijmegen, and Arnhem. Historically, Schmits was a family name whose roots stretch back to numerous small villages located in the Lower Rhine region of Germany. The Kessler, Schmitz, and Schmitts families were all related to one another, with the surname eventually migrating from Germany into the Netherlands in the Middle Ages.
Today, Schmits remains a reasonably common surname in both the Netherlands and Germany, where variations such as Schmitts, Schmidts, and Schmitz can be found across the broader German-speaking community. In Holland, the family name is especially common in the provinces of Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Gelderland, and Overijssel. It is estimated that there are around 80,000 to 100,000 people with the last name Schmits living in the Netherlands today.
Variations of the surname Schmits
The surname Schmits is a common German/Flemish surname which also has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most likely versions of the surname are Schmitt, Schmidt, Schmitz and Smits, which are all widespread throughout Europe. The spelling Schmits is the original Germanic spelling, whereas the other versions Schmitt, Schmidt and Schmitz are derived from that original form.
Schmitt is the most common variant, with an estimated 900,000 people bearing the surname. It is also one of the most popular surnames in Germany and Austria. The variant Schmitz is mainly found in central and western Germany, while Smits is more common in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Surnames derived from Schmits would include the English forms which are not as common, such as Schmidd, Smitts and Schmertz, which may be more limited to those of German or Flemish ancestry who have migrated to surrounding countries.
Other spellings of Schmits, derived from the Middle Low German suffix ‘-itze’, could be Smitz, Schmytz, Smetse, Smitsen, Schmittes, Schmatz, Schmiese, and Smitesse.
In addition to its regional variants, the surname may also have house names derived from Schmits such as Schnitzel, Schnipsel, Schmittl, Schmitzell, Smitzell and Smesser, which would indicate a regions of origin.
Overall, there are numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Schmits, all of which have developed over the course of centuries, and are now widespread across the world.
Famous people with the name Schmits
- Chad Schmits: Veteran of the United States Air Force
- Francis J. Schmits: American politician and US Army
- Donald Schmits: Pulitzer Prize-winning author
- Dr. Paul Schmits: Researcher in the fields of laser technology and nonlinear optics
- Jonathan Schmits: Programmer and analyst for Microsoft
- John Schmits: American college basketball coach
- Kelly Schmits: Former professional golfer
- Kim Schmits: Musician and singer-songwriter
- Kathy Schmits: Olympic rower
- Peter Schmits: Football player and manager for several European clubs.