Surname Schoemaker - Meaning and Origin

Schoemaker: What does the surname Schoemaker mean?

Schoemaker is a Dutch surname that literally translates to "shoemaker" in English. The name's origin is occupational, deriving its roots from the profession of a shoemaker or a cobbler. Such occupational surnames were often assigned to individuals based on their profession, which later became their family names passed down through generations. This suggests that the ancestors of those bearing the Schoemaker surname likely worked as shoemakers. However, given the commonality of this profession in the past, many unrelated families may have independently adopted this name. It's also worth noting that several variations of this surname exist, given the changes and misspellings over the years. Consequently, not all individuals with this surname or its variants might be related. This surname is particularly common in the Netherlands and parts of Belgium, in line with its Dutch origin.

Schoemaker: Where does the name Schoemaker come from?

The last name Schoemaker is most commonly found in the Netherlands, though there are also Schoemakers in other European countries as well as in the United States. The surname appears all across the Netherlands, with the region of Utrecht having the highest concentration of Schoemakers.

In the United States, the highest concentration of Schoemakers is found mainly in the Midwestern states, with the highest concentrations in Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. It is uncertain how many Schoemakers immigrated to the US, but genealogists speculate that the family likely originated in the Netherlands and then spread to other countries.

In the Netherlands, the Schoemaker family is an old and noble one, with Kreitsma Schoemaker having been one of the most prominent members of the family. The Schoemakers were a powerful family in the Middle Ages and held extensive lands in the region. In the nineteenth century, a number of Schoemakers emigrated to the United States. In the present day, Schoemakers are especially proportionally represented in the area of Grave, where the Schoemaker family is still concentrated.

Though the Schoemaker family appears to have its roots in the Netherlands, it has been adopted into numerous countries, indicating its popularity and longevity. Today, Schoemaker families are visible in numerous countries, though they still remain most concentrated in the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Schoemaker

The surname Schoemaker is of Old English, German, and Dutch origin. The Old English meaning of Schoemaker is "shoemaker" and it is derived from the words "sceomann" and "sceoh". Its variants, spellings and surnames include Shumaker, Schumaker, Shoemaker, Skoemaker, Schumecker and Schimmelmaker.

In Old English, the name was primarily used for people who worked as shoemakers. In German and Dutch, the original surname was Schemacher or Scheyemacker, respectively. Over time, the name has been anglicized in many variations such as Schoemaker, Schumaker, and Schimmelmaker.

The surname is very common in Holland, the Netherlands, and Germany. It is also found in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, and Canada.

The spelling variety, Shoemaker, is the most common in the United States. In Canada and England, the variants Schumaker and Schoemaker are more common. The surname Skoemaker is found more in Nordic countries such as Norway and Sweden.

Schoemaker can also be seen as Schemacher in the German version of the surname. This is a very common variant in German families with the surname Schoemaker.

The spelling Schimmelmaker is a more recent variant of Schoemaker associated with immigrants from Dutch-speaking regions. It is closely connected to the occupation of creating and assembling wagons, a task associated with the Schoemaker surname.

No matter the variant or spelling, all spellings of the surname Schoemaker ultimately have the same origin and meaning.

Famous people with the name Schoemaker

• Jan Schoemaker: Former director of the Congregational and Synod Elders Training Program at Bethel University.
• Philip Schoemaker: American business executive, investor, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and philanthropist.
• Jenna Schoemaker: Professional golf player who plays on the Symetra Tour.
• Domonique Schoemaker: American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under the ring name Ariane Andrew.
• Marco Schoemaker: World champion speed skater from the Netherlands.
• Thijs Schoemaker: Founder of Huygen, an international management consultancy firm.
• Chris Schoemaker: Former British Paralympic swimmer.
• Bram Schoemaker: Dutch footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Willem II in the Eredivisie.
• Kees Schoemaker: Dutch football manager.
• Joris Schoemaker: Dutch sailor who competed in the Summer Olympics in 2012.
• Gert Schoemaker: Dutch ballet dancer and artistic director who performed with the Houston Ballet.
• Roel Schoemaker: Dutch comedian and actor.
• Martien Schoemaker: Dutch field hockey player.
• Geert Schoemaker: Dutch rower.
• Rick Schoemaker: Dutch comic book artist and illustrator.
• Flor Schoemaker: German-born Swiss racewalker who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki.
• Jan Schoemaker Jr.: Dutch skater and two-time world allround champion.

Other surnames

SchoemackerSchoemaeckerSchoemakers