Surname Schwarzenberg - Meaning and Origin
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Schwarzenberg: What does the surname Schwarzenberg mean?
The last name Schwarzenberg is derived from a German word meaning ‘black mountain’. The Schwarzenberg surname has been traced back to a noble family originating in the Saxon regions of Germany before the 14th century. The Schwarzbergs established a hereditary title in the Austrian nobility by coronation of Frederick III in 1478 and were granted large estates in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Schwarzenberg family played an important role in European politics during the 18th to mid 19th centuries. Prince Adam Schwarzenberg was an important law reformer and diplomat for the Austrian Empire. He also led Austrian troops during the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Leipzig.
The Schwarzenberg family are particularly renowned for their social philanthropy, providing humanitarian aid such as the Beneschau foundation for needy students, and contributing to the fields of science, medicine, literature, music and the arts.
The ancient German name of Schwarzenberg is now spread across Europe and found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Belgium, among other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwarzenberg: Where does the name Schwarzenberg come from?
The last name Schwarzenberg is a noble German surname that is most commonly found in Central Europe. The Schwarzenberg family has a long and illustrious history in the area, with its first known member, Rudolf von Schwarzenberg, tracing his roots back to 1310 in Styria, Austria.
Today, the Schwarzenberg name is most commonly found in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. In Austria and Germany, much of the Schwarzenbergs' ancestral territory is concentrated in the eastern part of the two countries. In the Czech Republic, the family is concentrated mainly in the western part of the country, particularly in Moravia.
The Schwarzenbergs have a long history in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic as members of the aristocracy and still today some of their descendants serve in high political positions. In 1958, the Schwarzenbergs acquired the noble title of Princely House in Austria, and two of its members, Karel Schwarzenberg and Franz Joseph Schwarzenberg, are two of the last living nobles in Germany.
The Schwarzenbergs have been a prominent name in Central Europe for centuries and continue to be relevant today, exemplifying the long-standing strength of the family and its culture in the region.
Variations of the surname Schwarzenberg
The surname Schwarzenberg is a German noble family that has been documented since the 13th century. This noble family can be found throughout Europe in different countries and has quite a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of the surname are Schwarzenberger, Schwarzberger, and Schwarzbenger. Other spellings of the surname include Swartzberger, Schwarzer, Schwarzkopf, Schwarzmann, Schwarzendahl.
The Schwarzenbergs who moved to Northern Europe had their name spelled slightly differently to accommodate their new home. Examples of this include Svartenberg, Sværtenberger, Svart, and Svartberg. Similarly, in Eastern Europe, the name was sometimes spelled as Schwerinbarg and Shwartzburg.
Furthermore, the surname is known by various other names across Europe. This includes variants such as Schweizer or Switzer from Switzerland, Svatlák or Svaták from the Czech Republic, Svatý from Slovakia or Zwartenburg/Zwarteburg from the Netherlands.
In short, the surname Schwarzenberg has various forms, spellings and surnames of the same origin to account for its different locations. Together, these surnames all belong to the long-standing Schwarzenberg family.
Famous people with the name Schwarzenberg
- Karel Schwarzenberg: Former Czech foreign minister, serving from 2007-2013.
- Prince Philippe of Schwarzenberg: Czech diplomat and politician, served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2003-2013.
- Prince Karl Schwarzenberg: Former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012-2014.
- Sophie Schwarzenberg: Former Austrian Ambassador to the United Nations from 2008-2010.
- Franz Joseph II, Prince of Schwarzenberg: Austrian Field Marshal, served from 1817-1866.
- Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg: Austrian major general and diplomat, served from 1818-1863.
- Ludwig von Schwarzenberg: Former Austrian politician, served as Minister of State from 1814-1843.
- Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg: Former Austrian field marshal, served from 1843-1877.
- Ferdinand von Schwarzenberg: Austrian General, served from 1854-1887.
- Adolf, Prince of Schwarzenberg: Bohemian politician and statesman, served from 1884-1920.