Surname Schnellenbach - Meaning and Origin
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Schnellenbach: What does the surname Schnellenbach mean?
The last name Schnellenbach is a German surname which is derived from the words “schnell” and “bach” that translates roughly to “quick stream” or “rapid stream”. The name likely originated from someone who lived by or near a fast-moving stream, perhaps near a waterfall or in an area with other streams that moved quickly. It is possible the family at some point came from a region where snails were abundant, since “schnelle” is also the German word for “snail”.
The surname likely began appearing on official documents well before the 15th century AD, and began appearing widely throughout central Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the migration of people was more commonplace.
Today, the surname appears all over the world, with the majority of people carrying the Schnellenbach surname living in the United States, Austria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, and Australia.
Whether the bearer of the surname derives their lineage from the archaic word for “snail” or a fast-moving stream, they can take great pride in the long history of their name.
Order DNA origin analysisSchnellenbach: Where does the name Schnellenbach come from?
The surname Schnellenbach is most commonly found in Germany today. The name is generally believed to originate from areas of Bavaria, although the exact geographic origins are unknown. It is believed that the Schnellenbach family may have originated in a small village with the same name in the Rhineland Palatinate region of Germany.
The surname is believed to have first appeared during the Middle Ages when German families began adopting hereditary surnames. It is thought to have originated from the Germanic words 'schnell' and 'bach' which respectively mean 'quick' or 'swift' and 'stream', implying that either members of the family were quick or that the family may have lived near a stream.
Despite its origins, today the surname Schnellenbach is largely concentrated in Bavaria with some small presence in its neighbouring regions of Lower Saxony, Baden-Wurttemberg, and other parts of Germany.
The Schnellenbach family is believed to have grown in prominence during the late 19th century, and is today still primarily known for its down-to-earth, traditional outlooks and values. The Schnellenbachs are quite well known in their home regions of Germany for their keen craftsmanship and handmade garments which are still sold widely across the country.
Despite its limited presence today, the name Schnellenbach was quite prominent in German history and continues to be an interesting part of the country's culture.
Variations of the surname Schnellenbach
The surname Schnellenbach is a compound of two separate German words, "schnell" meaning swift and "bach" meaning stream. It is primarily found in German-speaking countries, and variants can be found spelling the name as Schnellenbacher, Schnellenbächer, Schnellenbauer, Schnellenböhmer, Schnellen, and Schnellenberg.
In Germany, the name Schnellenbach is primarily found in the region of Southwest Germany, located in the southwestern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. In the areas of Switzerland and Austria, the variations Schnellenbacher, Schnellenbächer, and Schnellenbauer are mostly seen. The surname Schnellenböhmer is more common in regions of northern Germany such as Mecklenburg, and the variations Schnellen and Schnellenberg are located in regions of northeast Germany.
The surname Schnellenbach itself derives from habitational names, associated with the original bearer of the surname who lived near a swift stream. As the family settled in various regions, the surname began to evolve into various spellings and dialectic forms.
The surname also has a few different variants when looking at the name's origin within different countries. For example, in Switzerland, the name is seen as Schnellenberg or Schnellenbau, while in Germany the name Schnellenböhmer is seen. The surname can also sometimes be encountered in American versions as Schnellenbacker, Schnellenberg, and Schnellenbarger, when German immigrants moved to the United States.
Famous people with the name Schnellenbach
- Franz Schnellenbach: German musicologist, author, Professor of Musicology at the University of Mainz, lived 1895–1970.
- Eric Schnellenbach: German physicist, professor at the University of Manchester and Director of the Institute for Microelectronics and Semiconductor Technology & Optoelectronics, lived between 1951 and 2014.
- Gail Schnellenbach: American fashion designer, professor of fashion design at Otis College of Art and Design, lived in 1962.
- Joachim Schnellenbach: German chef and restaurateur, creator of the highest Himalayan gourmet restaurant in the world, lived between 1968 and 2013.
- Martin Schnellenbach: German film director, lived between 1945 and 2011.
- Richard Schnellenbach: German economist, professor of political economy at the University of Berlin, lived between 1903 and 1969.
- Thomas Schnellenbach: German physicist, professor at the University of Frankfurt, lived between 1951 and 2016.