Surname Schwinden - Meaning and Origin
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Schwinden: What does the surname Schwinden mean?
The last name Schwinden is of German origin and is believed to have descended from a medieval family name. It is believed to have originated either from the Middle High German verb ‘swinden’ meaning ‘to disperse’ or from an alternative meaning meaning ‘to vanish’. It is plausible that the name was once associated with the family members who, when faced with a difficult situation, could deftly ‘disappear’ or ‘vanish’, thus allowing them to escape potentially dangerous situations.
Like many German names, variations of Schwinden have been common throughout Europe with many spellings, including Schwinten, Schwinden, Schweinden, and Schninden. It is believed to have first appeared as a family name in the 13th century, with some individuals taking the name derived from the Lord of Schwinden, a manor in the historic Palatinate region.
Today, the Schwinden surname is found throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is also found in the United States and Canada, with second and third generations of immigrants having adopted the name.
Whether originated from Middle High German or adapted from a historic nobleman, the Schwinden surname has maintained a long and interesting history that is still being carried across the world today.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwinden: Where does the name Schwinden come from?
The last name Schwinden is most commonly found in Germany and the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, Schwinden ranked as the 5,998th most common last name in the United States as of 2019. In Germany, the name was significantly more common, ranking 704th among German last names. The Schwinden family is believed to have originated in the Lower Rhine region of Germany, and during the 19th century many Schwinden families emigrated to the United States.
Today, Schwinden is still a common last name in both countries, with many descendants of the original Schwinden families living in the United States and Germany. Many Schwinden families can be found in the Midwestern US states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, as well as in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The name is also found in large American cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Louis.
In Germany, the surname is most common in the Rhineland-Palatinate region on the banks of the Rhine river. The largest cities with Schwinden families are Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Mainz. Additionally, there are larger concentrations of Schwinden families in the northern-central states of Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, and Saxony.
Overall, the last name Schwinden can be found in both Germany and the United States, although it is far more common in Germany. As the generations have passed, the Schwinden name has spread widely throughout both countries, forming large communities of Schwinden families in both the United States and Germany.
Variations of the surname Schwinden
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Schwinden are Schwinden, Schwenden, Schwanden, Schwandt, Schwemdt, Schwemdten, Schwender, Schwendter, Schwenten, Schwentner, Schwenz, Schwenzig, Schwenzinger, Schwind, Schwitner and Swentner.
The surname Schwinden has its origins in Germany and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘schwinden’, meaning ‘to vanish’, specifically related to a thinning or fading of light. It is likely that early bearers of this surname earned it for being evasive or secret, or even as a reference to a job considered to be ephemeral or fleeting.
Variations of the surname Schwinden form in different German-speaking regions from the Middle Ages onwards. Initially, the change was only in spelling, as many regions and dialects had different pronunciations and spellings for the same word. Over time, however, some of these distinctions have become more entrenched, leading to some distinct surnames developing which, though not identical, still stem from the same root word.
The surname Schwinden is also found as a German-American surname from records of immigration to the United States from German-speaking countries in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Most likely, the variation in spelling seen in America was due to the phonetic spelling of the original, by those unfamiliar with the German spelling and, therefore, attempting to record it as accurately as possible.
Today, Schwinden and its variants are common surnames across Europe and in the United States, a lasting reminder of a much older period of German history.
Famous people with the name Schwinden
- Jack Schwinden: a former politician in Canada who acted as the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from 2007 to 2012.
- Wes Schwinden: a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for several teams in the MLB including the Mets, Rockies, and Orioles.
- Charles Schwinden- a United States Army Major General who is currently serving as the commander of the United States Army National Guard.
- Harvey Schwinden: a former Canadian MP who represented the Provencher riding in Manitoba from 1957 to 1974.
- Dennis Schwinden: an American actor who has appeared in TV series such as Private Practice and NCIS.
- Harold Schwinden: a Canadian psychologist who has published several books on the subjects of narcissism, psychotherapy, and marriage.
- Regina Schwinden: a German composer who has written works for orchestral, chamber, choir, and choral music.
- John Schwinden Jr.: an American politician who is currently serving as the mayor of Little Falls, Minnesota.
- Michael Schwinden: a celebrated German photographer whose work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, GQ, and National Geographic.
- Kathy Schwinden: a retired schoolteacher who has made significant contributions to the education of underprivileged students in the US.