Surname Schnee - Meaning and Origin
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Schnee: What does the surname Schnee mean?
The last name Schnee is of German origin and has several possible meanings. In the first instance, it could be derived from the German word 'schnee', which translates as 'snow'. Thus, the surname could reference somebody from a place with a lot of snow or somebody who was born during a particularly snowy winter. In this context, it may also have been taken as a nickname for somebody who was very pale, blond or blue-eyed.
Alternatively, the name Schnee can also mean 'cutting', referring to somebody with a job involving cutting things like wood, metal or stone. This could denote a craftsman or a blacksmith who specialized in knives, axes or other tools. It could also have been taken from a person's profession as a tailor or a shoemaker.
In addition, Schnee might be derived from the Old German word 'schnaeche', meaning 'sharp' or 'keen'. This could refer to somebody who had a sharp mind, quick wit or excelled in trade and business. It could also have been taken from the Middle German word ‘schnaecher’, meaning 'barber'.
No matter the origin or intended meaning, the surname Schnee connotes a sense of self-reliance and cleverness. It can reflect a person of humble beginnings who had the skills, intelligence and resourcefulness to make their own way in life.
Order DNA origin analysisSchnee: Where does the name Schnee come from?
The surname Schnee is most commonly found in Germany, where it is the 49th most popular surname. By 1900, it had spread to the United States, where it is estimated to be the 5,525th most common last name in the country.
Now, the majority of Schnee-named individuals can be found in Germany, making up 40% of the total population with the last name. The next-highest concentration of the surname is in Austria, representing 11% of the Schnee population, followed by Switzerland at 6%. In the United States, Schnee is most concentrated in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California.
The surname Schnee may have different meanings depending on the country of origin. In Germany, it translates to “snow” and is likely derived from the German word for snow, Schnee. In Austria, the name could also have been derived from a word meaning “bright” or “shine.” In Switzerland, the word Schnee translates to “wood.”
The Schnee surname is an ancient one, dating back at least 800 years. Many original bearers of this name emigrated to other countries, and their descendants carry the name today. Today, the Schnee surname is most notably known as the name of the family in the popular video game and series, “The Legend of Zelda.”
Variations of the surname Schnee
The surname Schnee is of German, Dutch, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word “sneo” which means ‘snow’. The variants and spellings of the name, include Schne, Schney, Shnee, Shney, and Schneyer.
The German variants of the name include Schneeberger, Schneeköber, Schneidemann, Schneidler, Schneir, Schnering, Schnepers, and Schneyder. In the Netherlands, spellings of the name include Schneevoogt, Schneeveen, Schneegeer, Schneehuis, and Schneeberg.
In addition, variants and spellings of the name in other parts of Europe also exist. For example, in Austria, the form Schneeweiss is common, and in Latium, Italy, names such as Schneer and Schnepparelli are frequently seen.
Jewish variants of the name include Schneider, Schneyder, Schneer, and Sneider.
In the United States, the spelling of the surname has been changed slightly to fit the English language and culture. For example, the most common spellings are Snow, Snowe, Snowman, and Snell.
Despite the fact that variants of the surname Schnee have spread to many parts of the world and have seen many alterations to fit the language and culture of those respective areas, the original form of the name remains.
Famous people with the name Schnee
- Wilhelm Friedrich August Schnee: a German botanist who worked extensively on the flora of Sumatra.
- Robert E. Schnee: an American lawyer and banker who served as Chairman of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).
- August Schnee: a German engineer and industrialist, he was a major player in the introduction of self-propelled railcars into Europe in the late 19th century.
- Hans Schnee: a German musicologist, he co-founded the International Musicological Society in 1927.
- Fritz Schnee: an Austrian composer and flautist, he composed works for different ensembles and developed the "Schnee System" of flute playing which is still used by some musicians today.
- Christian Schnee: an Austrian military officer who served during World War II and was held as a prisoner of war in France.
- Fritz Schnee: an Austrian writer and theatre director who wrote extensively on theatre and culture
- Hermann Schnee: an important Swiss journalist who was active from the mid-century to the early 20th century.
- Siegfried Schnee: a German stage and film actor who appeared in a number of classic German films from the early 1930s.
- Walter Schnee: an Austrian politician who was closely associated with the Austrian Greens party.
- Werner Schnee: a German sociologist, he was a professor at the University of Tübingen from 1933 to 1945.
- Friedrich Schnee: a German painter and theatrical set designer, he is best known for his landscape paintings of the Bavarian Alps.
- Max Schnee: a German classical composer, he wrote several symphonies and chamber music pieces in the Romantic style.
- Julius Schnee: an Austrian physicist who is credited with developing the principle of thermodynamic reversibility.
- Carl Schnee: a Swiss engineer, he developed the “Schnee process” for producing ice by mechanical refrigeration.