Surname Schmittel - Meaning and Origin
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Schmittel: What does the surname Schmittel mean?
The last name Schmittel is of German origin and has two possible sources. First, it could be derived from the Medieval German name "Schmidt," meaning "blacksmith." This occupational surname was a common one in Germany and other parts of Europe. In this case, Schmittel would have been a diminutive form of Schmidt, denoting someone who was a "little blacksmith." Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the German word "mittel," meaning "mediator" or "middleman." In that case, the name would have been given to someone who acted as a go-between or intermediary.
The surname is still found in various parts of Germany, and some variations—such as Schmitz, Schmitt, Smith, and Smitz—are found in other parts of Europe and the United States. Today, Schmittel is most commonly associated with people of German ancestry. Those bearing the surname are likely descendants of German immigrants who moved to the US in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The last name Schmittel indicates an interesting history of ancestors whose professions spanned a wide range of activities. Depending on the particular source of the surname, bearers of the name can trace their ancestry to either hardworking blacksmiths or shrewd inter-mediators.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmittel: Where does the name Schmittel come from?
The surname Schmittel is most commonly found in Germany and other regions of Central Europe. However, there have been numerous instances in which the surname has been adopted outside its most traditional area. In the 19th and 20th centuries, people with the surname moved to countries around the world, particularly in North America where it is also now found.
In America, research indicates that the surname Schmittel has been in the country since as early as 1880 and that by 1980 it had been adopted by over 10,000 people. There also seems to be mobility associated with this surname as over half of those who adopted the surname live outside of its traditional regions in America. This has resulted in families with the surname spread far and wide.
Though the surname is mostly concentrated around Central Europe, in the last century more and more people have adopted the surname outside this area. There are now Schmittel’s in nearly every populated area around the globe and as people keep moving the surname will continue to spread.
However, the most intense concentration of the surname appears to be in Germany. As of 2019, there were over 56,000 people in Germany who adopted the surname, making it the country where Schmittel is most commonly found.
Variations of the surname Schmittel
Schmittel is of German origin and is an occupational surname, derived from “Schmied”, which means “smith”. Over the centuries, this surname has diversified in different ways, resulting in a variety of spelling variants and alternate surnames.
The most common variants of the name Schmittel are Schmidtel and Schmittel. Some other spellings include Shmidl, Smidt, Smit(h), Schmitd, Schmid, Schmitt, Schmidl, Schmitz, and Schmitte.
Schmidtel, Smidt, Smit(h), and Schmidl, are the alternate surnames for Schmittel. However, these surnames are most commonly found in other countries like Germany and Denmark.
In addition, Schmittel is also a Jewish surname, which is often spelled Schmidtel. This name was adopted by Jews in Germany during their immigration to the country.
A few other surnames that are derived from Schmittel are Friedrichschimdt, Schmitteler, Schmiddel, Schmeidler, Schmedel, Schmieder, and Smidler.
Furthermore, there are two distinct branches of the Schmittel family residing in the United States. First, descendants of the German immigrants who settled in the Pennsylvania area in the 18th century bear the traditional Schmittel form of the name. The second branch comes from the more recent arrivals from Germany in the early 20th century, and their descendants bear the Schmidtel spelling. Both branches are well-known and have contributed to the country’s growth and development in various ways.
In conclusion, the Schmittel surname is diverse in its histories and diverse in its variants, spellings and surnames. This connects the families of the world - even though far apart, they can still trace their roots back to the same surname.
Famous people with the name Schmittel
- Paul Schmittel: Former German professional speedway rider
- Waldemar Schmittel: Former German footballer
- Rolf Schmittel: former German alpine skier
- Justus Schmittel: German professional football coach and manager
- Adolf Schmittel: former German Wehrmacht General
- Arthur Schmittel: German actor and director
- Bernd Schmittel: German Olympic bobsledder
- Kai Schmittel: German television actor
- Uwe Schmittel: German-American racing driver
- Hans Schmittel: German theatre, film and television actor
- Armin Schmittel: Former German Olympic rifle shooter
- Viktor Schmittel: Former German handball player
- Susi Schmittel: German actress
- Johannes Schmittel: Former German Olympic swimmer