Surname Schnittjer - Meaning and Origin
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Schnittjer: What does the surname Schnittjer mean?
The last name Schnittjer is an old German name. It comes from the German word “schnit” meaning “cut”, and the suffix “jer” which means “one who relates to”. Put together, it means “one who relates to cutting”, and generally this is taken to be a reference to a profession such as that of a barber, tailor, or clothier. Some believe it indicates the original bearer was a grain merchant.
The name is thought to have originally been more widely spread throughout Germany and the Netherlands but its usage has become more concentrated in certain parts of the United States in latter decades. For example, there is a large concentration of Schnittjers living in Northeastern Minnesota, where many German settlers made their homes around the turn of the 19th century.
It is a common occurrence for a family’s last name to represent a profession that a forefather may have held in the past and the Schnittjer last name is no exception. Therefore, it is likely that the original bearer may have worked in the profession of tailoring or barbering.
Order DNA origin analysisSchnittjer: Where does the name Schnittjer come from?
The last name Schnittjer is found mainly in the Netherlands, Germany, and parts of the United States. It originated in the German region of Westfalen which comprises several areas in the north-western part of the country.
The earliest records of the Schnittjer surname dates back to 1637 in Brinkum, Germany when the baptism of Johann Schnittjer was recorded in the Lutheran Church books. In the early 19th century, many members of the Schnittjer family emigrated to the Netherlands and to the United States, most commonly Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, and New York.
Today, the Schnittjer surname is most heavily concentrated in the Netherlands, with an estimated 12,000 people bearing the name. There are also an estimated 550+ living in the United States. The Schnittjer surname is quite rare in both the Netherlands and the United States, although it is still considered to be an active surname in the German region of Westfalen.
The name ‘Schnittjer’ is derived from the old German word ‘schnitt’, meaning ‘cut or shear’. It is believed that the name was originally given to people who had the profession of a tailor or tailor’s assistant. Over time, it may have been shortened to form the modern-day surname Schnittjer.
Today, Schnittjer is a rare but active surname in areas near its original origins. Its reach has extended around the world, with the majority of the surname's bearers now located in the Netherlands and the United States.
Variations of the surname Schnittjer
The surname Schnittjer has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Schnittjay, Schanee, Schnee, Schnietje, Schnittje, Schnitte, Schnitt, Schanet, Schanetay, Schnish, Schnet, SchnEY, SchnitttJE, SchnitZ., Schnitte·, and Schnitterer.
In Low German, the surname Schnittjer comes from the word ‘Schnitt,’ which is a form of the word ‘schnicken’ meaning to cut something into pieces. Hence, variations of the surname Schnittjer originally denoted people who were working in the cutting trade, such as butcher, tailor, carpenter, and so on.
The surname Schnee is derived from the German word “schneiden,” which is in reference to metalworker or smith. The variation Schanet might be derived from the German word ‘scheren’ which means to cut or shear and in some cases it might be derived from the Old High German word ‘scerno’ which could mean ‘sharply distinct’.
Variations of the name such as Schnett, Schnish, Schnet, SchnEY, SchnitttJE, SchnitZ., Schnitte·, and Schnitterer might simply be modifications of the main name Schnittjer by adding, removing, and substituting certain letters.
The surname is fairly common with several roots in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria, sometimes as a variation of the name Schnee.
Famous people with the name Schnittjer
- Matthew Schnittjer: Matthew Schnittjer is an American actor born in Georgia. He is best known for his roles in the hit television series, Desperate Housewives and Switched at Birth.
- Elisabeth Schnittjer: Elisabeth Schnittjer is a German actress who is best known for her roles in the movies, Der Normalo and Schöne Frauen.
- Alison Schnittjer: Alison Schnittjer is an American singer and actress who has starred in the off-Broadway musical, Ruthless! and appeared in the films, Transamerica and Room 104.
- Richard Schnittjer: Richard Schnittjer is an American composer and lyricist who won an Emmy Award for writing lyrics to the song “I’ll Send My Love Along” from the television show Caroline in the City.
- Jeff Schnittjer: Jeff Schnittjer is an American basketball coach and the current head coach for Butler University men’s basketball team. He has also been an assistant coach at the University of Iowa and DePaul University.
- Lyle Schnittjer: Lyle Schnittjer is an American politician and the current mayor of Lakeville, Minnesota. He was first elected in 2014 and is currently running for a third consecutive term in office.
- Christopher Schnittjer: Christopher Schnittjer is an American architect and prominent landscape architect. He is the founder and managing principal of The Schnittjer Group, a New York-based landscape architecture and urban design firm. He has been involved with a number of large-scale projects, such as the New York Botanical Garden and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.