Surname Schneeweihs - Meaning and Origin
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Schneeweihs: What does the surname Schneeweihs mean?
The last name Schneeweihs is of German origin, and has a variety of possible meanings. Some sources claim that the name is derived from the Old German phrase “schiinweis” meaning “snow white”, which was likely a byname given to light-haired individuals. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the local German word “schnee” meaning “snow”, and combined with “weihs” which translates to “consecrated” or “sacred”.
Schneeweihs is also thought to be a topographical name, referring to a person who resided near a snow-covered area or a snow-covered scene, such as a mountain, lake, or island. It may also have been a nickname for someone who was idolized or revered for some heroic event, or may have been an occupational name for a person who was employed in the spreading of salt on roads to help prevent snow and ice from accumulating.
Today, the Schneeweihs name can be found throughout Germany and neighboring countries. Those with the Schneeweihs last name are likely members of the larger Schneeweihs family that spans from the Middle Ages up to today. The Schneeweihs family is proud of its German origin and heritage, and is known to carry on its traditions and culture even today.
Order DNA origin analysisSchneeweihs: Where does the name Schneeweihs come from?
The last name Schneeweihs is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is a German name referring to 'snow white', and has its earliest known reference in a census from the Baden region of Germany back in the 16th century. It is also found in South Africa, where some German settlers transferred their name in the 19th century.
Schneeweihs is a relatively rare name today, with only a few hundred people having it. The highest concentration is found in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, which includes cities such as Bonn and Dusseldorf. The largest number of Schneeweihs registered to one locality can be found in the region of Hesse in central Germany, where there are 90 people.
Austria has the second highest concentration of Schneeweihs, with Brussels being the top city in the country with 64 people bearing the name. The city of Innsbruck in Austria's Tyrol region has the next highest concentration with 27 people. Other European locations where the name is found include Switzerland (with 12 people registered in Zurich), Luxembourg (10 people registered in Esch-sur-Alzette) and the Netherlands (3 people playing Schlewindeihs in Groningen).
Outside of Europe, Schneeweihs is found in South Africa (where 20 people are registered in the Pretoria area), Australia (16 registered in Sydney), and Canada (3 registered in Alberta).
Overall, Schneeweihs is a relatively rare surname, with only a few hundred people registered to have it worldwide.
Variations of the surname Schneeweihs
Schneeweihs is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word “schneeweise”, which means “covered in snow”. Depending on the regional dialect used to pronounce the surname, the same name may be spelled as Schneeweis, Snowhite, Schneeweise, Schneeweiss, Schneeweys, Sneeweiss, Schneueiss, Schneewieß, Schneeweiß, Snoweiss, Schneeveis, Schneeveys, or Schneeveiss, among others.
There are also several variant surnames that have arisen from this name. In some cases, the name has been Anglicized into Snowwhite or even Snowright. Alternatively, the name may also appear as Shnowweiss or Shnoweiss. In Germany, where the name originates from, the surnames Schneehuber, Schneehöber, Schneider, Schneidhauer, or Schneeweißer may also exist.
Regardless of the spelling, Schneeweihs surnames are typically linked to a distant ancestral lineage from the Germanic region of Europe. Whether the variant retains its original German spelling or has been altered by language and culture, the root of the surname remains the same.
Famous people with the name Schneeweihs
- Nils Schneeweihs: German actor and director
- Heike Schneeweihs: German swimmer
- Jens Schneeweihs: German professional footballer
- Johannes Schneeweihs: German doctor and screenwriter
- Ivo Schneeweihs: German film director and assistant director
- Paul Schneeweihs: German actor
- Peter Schneeweihs: German flyfishing pioneer
- Ellen Schneeweihs: German fencer
- Christoph Schneeweihs: German film producer
- Ingo Schneeweihs: German ski jumper
- Rupert Schneeweihs: German TV producer and filmmaker