Surname Schwarzwälder - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schwarzwälder: What does the surname Schwarzwälder mean?
Schwarzwälder is a German surname, meaning 'Black forest dweller'. It is most common to people from the Black forest region of Southern Germany, which encompasses the states of Baden-Wurttemberg and part of southwestern Bavaria.
The Schwarzwälder surname is typically of rural or agricultural origin, as the Black Forest was mainly composed of small towns, forests and land which was used for farming small plots, as well as for mineral mining, wood logging and other related industries. The name itself is derived from the original German word ”Schwartze”, meaning 'black', and the common German suffix "-er", to show someone’s place of origin.
The Schwarzwälder family name has been dated back to the early 12th century, but it was not until much later, in the mid 15th century, that the name began to appear in church records and official documents. The earliest known individual bearing this surname was Gerhard Schwaerzewälder, of Fassnacht, Bavaria, who was baptized on October 26, 1448.
The Black Forrest region of Germany was known for its beautiful and lush forests, rolling hills, clear rivers, lakes and fertile land, making it a desirable area for many to make their home, and as a result, the surnames belonging to this region also became more common as time passed. Today, Schwarzwälder families can potentially be found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the USA, Canada, Australia and other countries with a substantial population of German-speaking people.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwarzwälder: Where does the name Schwarzwälder come from?
The last name Schwarzwälder is most commonly found in Germany and Switzerland. Many families with this surname can be found in the Black Forest region, which is located in southwest Germany. This is because Schwarzwälder is a geographical surname that originated during medieval times, when people would use the prefix “Schwarz” (meaning “black”) to describe a person who was from a certain area.
Today, Schwarzwälder can be found throughout Germany and Switzerland, but many families have emigrated to other countries, especially to the United States. In the U.S., this surname is found in many states, although those most associated with it are Texas, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, where a large population of Germans and Swiss settled in the 1700s and 1800s.
The surname is also found in Australia, due to the many German migrants who arrived there in the 19th and 20th centuries, and in some other European countries as well. The last name Schwarzwälder is uncommon outside of Europe and the United States, although it is becoming more widespread in recent years.
Variations of the surname Schwarzwälder
The surname Schwarzwälder is of German origin and it is derived from the word Schwarzwald, which means Black Forest. Its variants and spellings are often also seen with the preposition 'von' as Von Schwarzwälder or Von Schwarzwald.
Variants of the surname include, but are not limited to Schwartswälder, Schwartzwald, Schwartswalde, Schwarzwalde, Schwarzwalder, and Shwartsvald. There are also international spellings and variants for the surname, such as Swartzwolder, Schwarzwalder, and Schwarzeler.
In addition to the variants, there are other surnames related to Schwarzwälder, such as Schwarzwalder, Schwarzwälderin, Schwarzwälderhaas, Schwarzwalde, and Schwarzwaldemann.
Surnames derived from the Schwarzwälder family include Shwartzwald, Schwartzenbach, Schwarzwäldler, Schwarzenbre, Schwarzwelder, and Shwartzwaldt.
These variants and surnames of Schwarzwälder suggest the surname has an ancient but still ongoing history of usage within the German culture and language. Being aware of the variants and surnames related to Schwarzwälder can help identify generations past of the family name and make it easier to trace family lineages.
Famous people with the name Schwarzwälder
- Petra Schwarzwälder, doctoral student in the history of art
- Alexander Schwarzwälder, German politician
- Gustav Schwarzwälder, German lawyer
- Corinna Schwarzwälder, German TV presenter
- Frieder Schwarzwälder, German writer
- Luc Schwarzwälder, German researcher
- Angelika Schwarzwälder, German opera singer
- Joachim Schwarzwälder, German physicist
- Frank Schwarzwälder, German composer
- Uwe Schwarzwälder, German sculptor