Surname Schwarthans - Meaning and Origin
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Schwarthans: What does the surname Schwarthans mean?
Schwarthans is a German locational surname derived from the composition of words ‘schwarz’ and ‘Thann’, meaning black and thorns respectively. It is thought that the people bearing this name originally lived close to a prominent blackthorn hedge, the thorns of which could be seen from a distance. It is one of the thousands of German surnames that still bear the influence of the country’s early Medieval topography, when men and women were identified by where they lived and the prominent features of their environment.
The surname was likely first used by families living close to the thorns, and similar surnames were also used in the same region, such as ‘Schwarzenbach’, ‘Schwarzenegg’, and ‘Schwarzensee’. Schwarthans is not a common name and is found mainly in the regions of Bavaria, Saxony, and Mecklenburg.
Early bearers of the name were mainly farmers, but the family line became more diverse with each generation. Namesakes branched out into trades such as tailoring, brewing, locksmithing, and carpentry. Today, members of the Schwarthans family are found in many countries around the world. Despite the distance, they can all trace their ancestry back to ancient eastern thorns, providing a strong, yet subtle, sense of cultural identity and continuity.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwarthans: Where does the name Schwarthans come from?
The last name Schwarthans is primarily found in the United States and Germany today. In the United States, Schwarthans is found primarily in the states of Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Wisconsin. According to family history records, many Schwarthans's immigrated to the United States during the 19th century, primarily from Germany.
Germany is thought to be the origin of the name, and most records lead to an origin from the southern German state of Bavaria. Specifically, the town of Neukirchen near Schweinfurt is known to have several Schwarthans families. This town is still in existence today and visitors may still find traces of the original Schwarthans family there.
The earliest records of the Schwarzthans family can be found in the Valkenburg parish records. These records date back to the early 17th century, listing the marriage of Hans Peter Schwarzthans and Maria Margaretha in 1627. Schwarzthans is believed to be derived from the German word "schwarz", which translates to black.
The name Schwarthans appears to have been popular in Germany until around the end of World War II, when large numbers of people, including the Schwarzthans family, migrated to the United States before and after the fall of Nazi Germany. It is possible that descendants of the Schwarzthans family are still living in Germany today, although this is difficult to verify.
Variations of the surname Schwarthans
Schwarthans is a German surname that originated in the Middle Ages and is derived from the word "Schwarz", which means black. It is an old family name that was prominent in Medieval Germany and is still used today.
The most common variants of the name are Schwarthan, Schwartzhan, Swarthan, Schwarzhan, Schwartzen, and Schwartza. These spellings reflect regional variations within Germany, as well as changes in spelling over the centuries.
The family name might also take on variations based on the family's place of origin. For example, Schwarthan German families originating from Bavaria may use the spelling Schwartzhan, while those from Prussia may use the spelling Schwartz.
Other surnames exist that share the same origin and may derive from Schwarthans. The most common are Schwertner, Schwalm, Schwattner, Schwärzler, Schwarzer, Schwartzenberger, and Schwarzberg.
In addition, some families may have adopted foreign surnames, such as Trujillo (Spanish), Romanov (Russian), di Ventola (Italian), or Shimazu (Japanese). All of these surnames are derived from the same root as Schwarthans and trace back to the same family.
Famous people with the name Schwarthans
- Wurt Schwarthans: A German Olympic athlete who competed in the Rio 2016 Olympics as a swimmer.
- Paul Schwarthans: An author and lawyer best known for his work on human rights cases in Germany.
- Heinz Schwarthans: A businessman and entrepreneur who founded several companies in the automotive and general engineering sectors.
- Raimund Schwarthans: Prominent Austrian journalist and radio presenter.
- Juanita Schwarthans: A Chilean fashion designer who works in Paris.
- Paul Schwarthans Jr.: The son of Paul Schwarthans, and prominent scholar in European law.
- Peggy Schwarthans: A renowned German historian and scholar.
- Markus Schwarthans: An acclaimed German film-maker and animator.
- Ralf Schwarthans: A celebrated orchestral conductor and professor of music.
- Marius Schwarthans: A renowned Austrian visual artist known for his abstract paintings.