Surname Schnittker - Meaning and Origin
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Schnittker: What does the surname Schnittker mean?
The last name Schnittker is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German term ‘schnit’, which means ‘cut’, ‘shear’, or ‘divide’. Historically, the surname would have been given to someone who held a profession of cutting or shearing, such as a tailor, clothier, or farmer.
During the Middle Ages, the family surname Schnittker would have served as an occupational descriptor for people who were skilled in the art of cutting and shearing. This may be applied to a variety of helpful professions, such as tailoring, or even farmyard tasks such as sheep shearing or hay making.
The name has a distinctive German ring to it, having been adopted as more of a descriptive term for an individual or family who worked in one of these professions. An interesting point is that the name hasn’t changed to reflect a more contemporary job such a barber; it is still indicative of someone who has been involved with cutting and shearing in some capacity.
Today, the name Schnittker is still found in many areas of Europe, as well as in countries around the world where German settlers have established new homelands. The last name Schnittker is synonymous with a powerful working heritage, and it has gone on to form a strong professional legacy that exists to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisSchnittker: Where does the name Schnittker come from?
The last name Schnittker is most commonly found in Germany today. It is incredibly rare in other countries, likely due to the fact that many people with the last name emigrated from Germany in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The origin of Schnittker is unclear as there is speculation around it being German, Danish, or Polish. The name likely originated in Prussia when surnames were recorded for the first time in the mid-1800s. As a relatively common German surname in Prussia, many members of the Schnittker family relocated to North America and Canada throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Although rare, the name Schnittker can also be found in England, Sweden, and South Africa.
In most of Germany, Schnittker is still widely used and is mostly composed of large communities in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Berlin, and Brandenburg.
The surname Schnittker is likely derived from the Middle High German word ‘snide’ which means ‘sharp’ or ‘pointed’. It is believed that the surname denoted someone who had the characteristics of being sharp and pointed, such as quick-witted, observant, or clever.
The current number of people with the last name Schnittker estimated to be around 13,100 people worldwide.
Variations of the surname Schnittker
The surname Schnittker is a German name, with variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The surname is derived from the word “Schnitt”, meaning cut or incision, although it may also be derived from a name for a tailor.
Variant spellings of the surname Schnittker include Schmitker, Schmittker, Schnetter, Schnitker, Schnutter, Shnittker, and Shnutter. Relatives of the Schnittker name can also often be found under spellings such as Schnickel, Schnütgen, and Shnickle.
More distant relatives of the “Schnittker” name origin, may be found under the spelling Schnickelmeister, with roots back to the Middle Ages, where someone given this name likely practiced the trade of carpentry, wielding tools with precision.
The surname Schnittker is also commonly confused with other German surnames, such as Schmitt, Schmied, Schmetz, and Schmik, which all derive from “schmeissen”, meaning to hurl or throw.
In some cases, the surname Schnittker is found with a city or region of origin attached to it, such as Schmitker of Westphalia or Schnittker of Silesia.
A person researching a surname of Schnittker, can also sometimes find it in combination with other surnames, such as Hauschild–Schnittker, or Schnittker–Mann.
Finally, similar surnames to that of Schnittker, which also have German roots, include Schmidt, Schmitt, and Schnitzler, which are all derived from the Middle High German words “Schmied” and “Schmiede”, which mean blacksmith.
Famous people with the name Schnittker
- Thomas Schnittker: Record producer, executive vice president of the record label SBK Records.
- Wilko Schnittker: German professional footballer.
- Werner Schnittker: Former football goalkeeper.
- Maximilian Schnittker: German actor.
- Christian Schnittker: German footballer.
- Artur Schnittker: German actor and director.
- Julie Schnittker: American actress.
- Jean-Paul Schnittker: former American football player.
- Martin Schnittker: retired German professional footballer.
- Guy Schnittker: Australian artist.
- Luther Schnittker: polar explorer and professor of meteorology at Ohio State University.
- Joachim Schnittker: German engineer.
- Martha Schnittker: American legislator and social worker.
- Meike Schnittker: German Olympic sprint canoeist.
- Edward Schnittker: American Olympian track and field athlete.
- George Schnittker: Canadian politician and lawyer.
- Viktor Schnittker: German political activist and feminist.
- Tobias Schnittker: German photographer.
- Paul Schnittker: American producer, writer and director.
- Ruth Schnittker: French politician and former Mayor of Courbevoie.