Surname Schmittgen - Meaning and Origin
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Schmittgen: What does the surname Schmittgen mean?
The last name Schmittgen is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "schmidtgen" or "smiten" meaning a blacksmith or ironworker. The surname was originally given to a person who worked with metals, such as a smith or locksmith. This occupation was once quite common in the Germanic world.
Schmittgen can be found in records from the 16th century, with spellings such as Smittergen and Smittersen. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the spelling began to be standardized to the current form.
Today, the majority of the people with the Schmittgen last name still live in the same area where the surname originated, in the Ruhr area of modern-day Germany. It is the 5,010th most common last name in the world, with about 3,000 people in Germany bearing this name.
Schmittgen is not a particularly common last name, but it does carry a strong association with craftsmanship and the working of metals. It can be considered a representation of the strength and resilience of the German people and the values they uphold.
Order DNA origin analysisSchmittgen: Where does the name Schmittgen come from?
The last name Schmittgen is most common today in Germany and Austria. According to the World Names Profiler, it is the 6,754th most common surname in the world, and ranks 140th in Germany and 2,066th in Austria.
In Germany, about 1 in every 7,064 people have the last name Schmittgen. The greatest concentration is in the state of Hamburg, where it is the 31st most common surname (1 in 733). The states with the next highest concentrations are Niedersachsen (1 in 4,400), Rheinland-Pfalz (1 in 5,701), and Hessen (1 in 5,747).
In Austria, about 1 of every 19,783 people have the last name Schmittgen. The greatest concentration is in the state of Burgenland, where it is the 291st most common surname (1 in 2,406). The provinces with the next highest concentrations are Salzburg (1 in 5,903), Oberösterreich (1 in 9,312), and Vorarlberg (1 in 10,484).
Outside of Germany and Austria, the Schmittgen last name is relatively rare. The countries with the highest concentration are Switzerland, the United States, and the Netherlands. In Switzerland, it is the 909th most common surname (1 in 6,363), in the United States it is the 14,752nd most common surname (1 in 81,975), and in the Netherlands it is the 7,912th most common surname (1 in 33,979).
Variations of the surname Schmittgen
Schmittgen is a German surname that is derived from the Middle High German word "schmid," meaning "smith." Variants of this name include Schmidtgen, Schmiedgen, Schmitt, Schmidt, and Schmied. This surname is especially common in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany.
Variations of Schmittgen also exist in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, and Poland. There are Spellings include Schmiedgens, Schmitts, Schmidts and Schmieds. Some of the variants resulting from changing the letter "t" for "d" include Schmiedigan and Schmidigan.
Surnames of the same origin include Smithen, Smithen, Smithina, Smitheman, Smitman, and Smitten. All of these are derived from the Middle High German word "schmid," meaning "smith."
In the United States, some people with the surname Schmittgen changed their name to Smith, a more modern sounding version. Other derivatives of the name include Schmittsen, Schmitten, Smittgen, Schmidtoun, Schmittusten, and Schmidtgaeht.
Overall, Schmittgen is a German surname with many variations and derivatives. It is derived from the Middle High German word "schmid," meaning "smith," and its variants exist in many countries throughout Europe, as well as the United States.
Famous people with the name Schmittgen
- David Schmittgen: An American biostatistician, epidemiologist, and public health researcher, who is currently the Director of the Centre for Applied Biostatistics and the Biostatistics Core at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, United States.
- Bodo Schmittgen: Former professional racing driver, German national cycling team coach, and current performance consultant and designer for the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
- Friedrich Schmittgen: German businessman and landowner who founded the Schmittgensburg Estate near Bonn in the late 19th century.
- Philip Schmittgen: A German politician and member of the first democratically elected German Bundestag representing the Christian Democratic Union of Germany.
- Johannes Schmittgen: German mathematician and philosopher who wrote important works on analysis, philosophy and theology.
- Peter Schmittgen: A German economist and property investor who was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2008.
- Regine Schmittgen: German athlete who specialises in the 400 metres hurdle race and was also part of the German 4x400m relay womens team at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Markus Schmittgen: German physicist who specializes in quantum optics and co-authored a book on the subject quantum optics in cavities.
- Michael Schmittgen: A German actor, known for Trödeltrupp: Muss Man Erst Krank Werden (2018) and Die Tibetauswahl (2015).
- Norbert Schmittgen: A German teacher, coach, and member of the CDU. Was a member of the state parliament of Rheinland-Pfalz in the 1980s.