Surname Schoenmehl - Meaning and Origin
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Schoenmehl: What does the surname Schoenmehl mean?
The last name Schoenmehl is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German words “schon” and “mehl,” which both mean “beautiful.” Therefore, Schoenmehl accurately reflects the sentiment of “beautiful flour,” denoting a beautiful wheat flour.
The name Schoenmehl is thought to have originated as an occupational surname. People with the last name Schoenmehl were likely grain millers or had some relation to the production and sale of grain. Specifically, the Schoenmehl surname is believed to have belonged to individuals who produced higher-quality grains than the typical farmers of the Middle Ages.
The prevalence of grains as a staple of the Middle Ages’ diets meant grain millers and people associated with the production and sale of grains were incredibly important to the economic stability of communities during this time. Moreover, since such individuals had control over the grain trade, they often had higher status than other tradesmen and could be considered quite wealthy.
Schoenmehl is not exceedingly common in present-day Germany but is not altogether rare. With most of the people bearing this last name found in the North-Rhine Westphalia region in Germany, the name carries with it a symbol of high-quality workmanship and a reminder to appreciate the hard work of millers and correspondingly, other tradesmen, past and present.
Order DNA origin analysisSchoenmehl: Where does the name Schoenmehl come from?
The last name Schoenmehl is present today primarily in Germany and the United States. In the United States, Schoenmehl is mostly found in Pennsylvania, California, and Wisconsin – with largest concentrations in Pennsylvania. Records indicate German immigrants with this surname arrived in Pennsylvania in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and some of their descendants later settled in other parts of the country.
More recently, the name has become popular in areas of Germany such as Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Berlin. Birth records show a pattern of Schoenmehl families originating in Bavaria and later settling in other areas of Germany. The name is also found in other parts of Europe including Austria and Switzerland, and in countries stretching from Australia to South Africa.
The Schoenmehl name is quite varied, also taking on different spellings including Schömhöl, Schonmehl, Schoen, and Schomhl. In the United States, the Schoenmehl spelling can also be found in various forms such as Shoen, Shoemakerl, and Schoenberg.
The Schoenmehl name has existed since well before the 19th century, and is found in records as far back as the 16th century in Germany. Given its varied spellings and prevalence around the world, the last name Schoenmehl surely has many more stories to tell.
Variations of the surname Schoenmehl
The surname Schoenmehl is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German word "schon," which means "beautiful" and "meihl," which refers to a miller. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Schoenmahl, Schonmeier, Schonmiller, Schoenmueller, Schoenmeul, Schonmael, Schonmaier, Schonmuller, Schonmoller, Schonmeister, Schonmaill, Schonmiller, Schoenmeier, Schonmaler and Schonmaeler. The use of surnames became widespread in medieval times to differentiate between people who had the same name. During this period, names changed and were often corrupted, leading to the variations we see today.
Schoenmehl can also be found as part of larger family names, such as Schoenmehl-Walz, Schoenmehl-Kroppor and Schoenmehl-Weber. This extended form of the name can be traced back to a higher social status, being that of an affluent land owner.
In some regions, the Anglo-Saxon Schoenmehl has become Schonant, for example in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia where German Mennonite were among the earliest settlers. The Americanized form of this surname is Schennemeyer, which has now merged with Shannemeyer and has several spellings such as Shonnemeyer, Shonemeyer and Shannemeyer.
Regardless of the variation, all of these names are based on the Old High German word schon, which means "beautiful," combining with meihl, which means "miller." Through time, the connections between the original elements have become less significant, but the names still retain the same origin and meaning.
Famous people with the name Schoenmehl
- Kurt Schoenmehl: professional Australian rules footbally player
- Ernst Schoenmehl: German composer of the early Romantic period
- Brigitte Schoenmehl: German physician and politician
- Ralf Schoenmehl: US-American record producer and conga player
- Katrin Schoenmehl: German Olympic cross-country skier
- Bruce Schoenmehl: American professional golfer
- Max Schoenmehl: German academic
- Franz Schoenmehl: German professor, art historian and colonial official
- John Schoenmehl: American politician
- Margaret Schoenmehl: German figure skater
- Alfred Schoenmehl: German sculptor
- Wilhelmina Schoenmehl: German Empress consort
- Fritz Schoenmehl: German engineer and inventor
- Jonathan Schoenmehl: Tasmanian Sports Administrator