Surname Schwarze - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Unraveling the Mysteries of My Surname Schwarze with iGENEA DNA Analysis
Recently, I undertook a DNA analysis at iGENEA to uncover the mysteries of my family name - Schwarze. Tracing back to its Germanic roots, I discovered exciting historical contexts and migratory routes of my ancestors, leading me to newfound humility, pride, and curiosity about my lineage.
C. Schwarze
read moreSchwarze: What does the surname Schwarze mean?
The surname Schwarze is Germanic in origin, and could be translated to mean 'black'. It is a descriptive name that arose to distinguish individuals from those with a similar sounding name.
There are various ways in which the name Schwarze has been broken down to create variations in spelling, or to differentiate between people from different backgrounds. For example, it could be found as Schwartze, Schwarz, Schwarzmann, Schwartzman, Swartzman, and Schwartz.
The name Schwarze was initially associated with people who lived in northern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Many of the earliest appearances of the name were connected to blacksmiths, but it could also denote a person who had dark hair and a darker complexion.
In today's society, the name Schwarze is still found throughout Germany and other countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as among the Jewish communities of western and central Europe. The name is sometimes associated with Jewish families, as the spelling variations Schwartz and Schwarzmann are used to denote those of Jewish ancestry.
Although it is a surname indicating a certain origin or occupation, the name Schwarze has no special meaning today, and is simply a moniker shared by many individual people. It is one of the instances in which a surname has passed through generations, and yet still retains a hint of its origin.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwarze: Where does the name Schwarze come from?
The last name Schwarze is most common today in Germany, specifically the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg. However, the name is also found around the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Schwarze has been found in records dating as far back as the 1500s, primarily concentrated around what was then known as Prussia. Records have documented that members of Schwarze families were involved in the early settlement of Prussia. The earliest known bearer of the name was Johann Henrich Schwarze, who was recorded living in Braunschweig (Brunswick) in 1586.
The name may have originally indicated that a person had black hair, or dark skin. This could have been derived from the Middle High German schwarz, which meant ‘black’. It is also possible that Schwarze was used to differentiate between the dark-featured and light-skinned people living in the area at the time.
Today, the name Schwarze is closely associated with numerous German clubs and organizations, such as the Schwarze Schule (Black School) and the Schwarze Kompanie (Black Company Honour Guard). This is particularly true in the German states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg.
Variations of the surname Schwarze
The surname Schwarze is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German "schwarc" or "schwarz," meaning "black." Variants and spellings of the surname Schwarze include Schwaarz, Schwarz, Schwarzendorf, and Schwartz. It can also be spelled with a "K", as in Kschwarz, or in its Anglized form, Swartz.
In the United States, the surname Schwarze can be found in many states, although mainly in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Many times surname spelling variations have resulted in different branches of the Schwarze family being unaware of one another.
Groups having this surname may have originally come from eastern and central European countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Rolling back to the Middle Ages, the extant family members can be traced to a dozen or so prominent families living in Westerwald and some other areas in western German.
A large number of variations of the name can be found in other countries, such as England, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Czech Republic, and even China. Variations of the surname Schwarze include Schwartze, Schwartzer, Schwartz, Szwartz, Scarza, Schwarzkopf, Schwarzrock, Schwarzlander, Schwarzman, and Schwarzmanns.
Overall, the various spellings of the surname Schwarze indicate its long standing tradition and strong roots in Germany and other European countries. It also highlights the values of the family as well as their contributions to the societies in which they were living.
Famous people with the name Schwarze
- Martin Schwarze: German former football player and manager
- Vicki Schwarze: American politician
- Gerhard Schwarze: German former football player
- Arik Schwarze: German music producer and songwriter
- Daniela Schwarze: German former handball player
- Oscar Schwarze: German former footballer
- André Schwarze: German artist and author
- Florence M. Schwarze: American engineer, educator and feminist
- Vojta Schwarze: Czech basketball coach and former player
- Gernot Schwarze: Austrian football manager and former player