Surname Schnurbach - Meaning and Origin
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Schnurbach: What does the surname Schnurbach mean?
The last name Schnurbach originated in Germany and is a German patronymic surname meaning "son of Schnur." The root of the name is Schnur which is derived from the German word schneuren, meaning "to entwine." In other words, it originates from a profession, that of a rope maker or somebody who weaves ropes.
The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the year 1262 with Herman der Schnurbacher. It was also found among the Palatine immigrants who made the historic crossing from Germany to the United States in the 1700s.
The name Schnurbach is still prevalent in Germany today, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg. It is most commonly found as a given name, though it is typically spelled with one "h" as Schnurbach.
In terms of interpretation, the name Schnurbach implies a rope maker or weaver, typically indicative of somebody who is creative, handy, and skilled. Not only did the name come from a profession, but it also reflects the strong work ethic necessary to rise above other ropemakers and stand apart from the competition.
Order DNA origin analysisSchnurbach: Where does the name Schnurbach come from?
The surname Schnurbach is most commonly found in Germany, as well as some surrounding countries. It is a rarer name outside of this region, with only a few isolated cases recorded.
The surname originated from areas of the former Holy Roman Empire, particularly from the Middle Rhine region. Today, the name is concentrated in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. The name can be found in smaller numbers in the former Prussian provinces of Lower Silesia and Pomerania, which are now located mainly in modern-day Poland.
The frequency of the surname Schnurbach within Germany is estimated to be just over 100 per million, meaning it is a fairly rare name. However, it is well-known in certain circles, and many surname databases contain listings for this surname.
Despite its rarity, the surname is still alive today, with many descendants of the original German-speakers still holding it in countries such as Germany, the United States and Canada. There are even a few families who can trace their heritage back to the original home of the surname, ensuring the name Schnurbach lives on in the present day.
Variations of the surname Schnurbach
The surname Schnurbach has a few derivatives and variant spellings, reflecting the evolution of surnames over time. Variants such as Schnurrbach, Schnurbauch, Schnurpach, Schinurpach, Schonurpacher, and Schonurbacher are found among those descended from German ancestors. Variants of Schnurbach with Czech origins include Šnírbíš, Šnurbíš and Šnorpíš.
The surname Schnurbach is derived from the Middle High German words "schnur" which means "twine" or "rope" and "bach" which means "brook". Thus, Schnurbach literally translates to "twine brook".
Surnames of similar etymology include Spellenburg (spell means "twine"), Spangenberg (spann means "fence", Schnellenberg (schnellen means "to travel fast"), and Scherfenberg (scherfen means "to twine"). Other surnames of foreign origin include Schönbach (Polish), Schönbych (Russian) and Szenburg (Hungary).
Although the origin of the surname is German, its reach is global due to migration and intermarriage. In some instances, the spelling of the surname has been Anglicized (Scherfenberg to Sherfenberger, Schnurbach to Snurabaugh) to better reflect current pronunciation and local dialects.
In the United States, the number of individuals with the surname Schnurbach is quite small. The surname is primarily concentrated in Pennsylvania and New York, with the distribution becoming increasingly thin as one travels further west.
Famous people with the name Schnurbach
- Marc Schnurbach: Marc Schnurbach is an American figure skater and coach who represented the US at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is the head coach of the Kiowa Figure Skating Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Thomas Schnurbach: Thomas Schnurbach is a German professional football player, currently playing for Würzburger Kickers in the German third-tier league.
- Denise Schnurbach: Denise Schnurbach is a Swiss–German beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Face of Switzerland 2013 and represented Switzerland at the Miss World 2013 beauty pageant.
- Balthasar Schnurbach: Balthasar Schnurbach was a German composer and organist of the Baroque era.
- Johann Christoph Schnurbach: Johann Christoph Schnurbach was a German architect. He is best known for the Dresden Cathedral, which he completed in 1750.
- Werner Schnurbach: Werner Schnurbach was a German architect, best known for his works in the Gothic Revival style.
- Maria Schnurbach: Maria Schnurbach was a German artist, best known for her paintings in a surrealist style.
- Annette Schnurbach: Annette Schnurbach is a German swimmer, best known for winning a bronze medal at the European championships in 1998.
- Therese Schnurbach: Therese Schnurbach was a German musician and composer.