Surname Schwindling - Meaning and Origin
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Schwindling: What does the surname Schwindling mean?
The last name Schwindling is most likely of Germanic origin. The name is derived from the German word "schwindling," which means "deception" or "scheming." It was likely adopted as a surname by individuals who were thought to be deceptive in some way.
The surname could have been adopted first by a person who had foreigners come to their land. During Medieval times, individuals would come from elsewhere and stay for some time to buy or trade goods. People thought to be untrustworthy, or even deceiving, were thought to be "schwindling," and the name might have been adopted in reference to this.
It is also thought that the surname could have been adopted by individuals known for their marketing skills or business acumen. In old German, the word "schwindling" could be used to describe someone who was clever in their trading and successful in negotiation.
The surname Schwindling is not very common today. However, a few people in Germany, Austria, and surrounding areas still bear this surname. It is possible that they are descendants of the original family or have adopted the surname as part of their own family ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwindling: Where does the name Schwindling come from?
The last name Schwindling is a German name, and it is still quite common in Germany today. For example, some sources estimate that there are about 10-12 thousand people living in Germany today with the surname Schwindling. It is also believed that the name is widely found in former German territories whose borders have since expanded in the wake of World War II.
The U.S. may also claim a population of people with the surname Schwindling. Ancestry.com lists a total of 837 people in the U.S. with the last name Schwindling. The majority of them live in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois. People with the Schwindling name may also be found in Argentina, Canada, as well as in Australia and New Zealand as the name was brought in by German immigrants during the 1800s.
Newspaper records also suggest that the Schwindling family had a presence all over the Austrian Empire, Prussian provinces, and former Silesia territories during the mid-19th century.
Overall, it is safe to say that the Schwindling family name is heavily concentrated in the areas around Germany today. It is also possible to make a case that the surname Schwindling has a footprint in the 'New World' and the countries and states that embraced German immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Schwindling
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Schwindling include the following: Schwindler, Schwindele, Schwindell, Schwindtling, Schwendling, Schwendinger, Schwenden, Schwendmann, Schwending, Schwendinger, Schwartzing, Schwartzinger and Schwendinger.
Schwindling is an occupational name, deriving from the Medieval German word ‘Schwindel’ meaning ‘deceit’ or ‘scheming’. This name usually referred to someone who was involved in some form of dishonest dealing.
The surname Schwindling emerged in the Middle Ages from the practice of adding a suffix ‘-ing’ or ‘-el’ to a noun or verb in order to create a new name. Hence, the surname Schwinling, or its various spellings, may have been chosen as an occupational name for someone who had a reputation of engaging in deceptive or dishonest behavior.
The surname Schwindling is mainly found in Germany, where it is derived from various Germanic-language sources such as the Middle High German and Old High German words “schwinde” and “schwindele”.
The surnames Schwendinger and Schwending are thought to be diminutive forms of the same root, possibly created by people who did not wish to share their reputation of engaging in dishonesty by using the full surname Schwindling.
The surnames Schwartzing and Schwartzinger are also thought to be derived from the same root, being composed of the words “schwarz” (black) and “ing”, and may have been used as a derogatory name imposed upon dishonest people.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Schwindling provide insight into the social and historical context of names. They also reveal the various ways in which people have sought to disguise their identity in order to avoid the consequences of engaging in dishonest behavior.
Famous people with the name Schwindling
- Lothar Schwindling: German actor and theatre director
- Jonathan Schwindling: American Olympic rowing athlete
- Sara Schwindling: German professional orienteer
- Philip Schwindling: American composer and sound designer
- Gunther Schwindling: German politician and educator
- Kay Schwindling: American artist and illustrator
- Robert Schwindling: German speed skater
- Meredith Schwindling: British-American interior designer
- Roland Schwindling: Swiss journalist and author
- Claus Schwindling: Austrian film director and producer