Surname ter Schmitten - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
ter Schmitten: What does the surname ter Schmitten mean?
The last name ter Schmitten is Dutch in origin. It is derived from two Dutch elements, “ter” and “Schmitten”. The element “ter” is used in Dutch place and family names and is derived from the Latin word “terra” which means “land”. The second element, “Schmitten” has a variety of different possible origins. It could come from the Dutch word “schmitte” which means “hamlet” or the German word “schmitten” which means “little mountain”. Alternatively, it could be derived from the name of a stream called the Schmeenz, or there is a possibility the name is of Jewish origin and is a variation of the Hebrew name “Schmeidman”.
Regardless of the exact etymology of the name, the overall meaning of ter Schmitten is generally accepted to mean “from or of the hamlet or mountain”. Therefore, it refers to a person or family of Dutch origin who was believed to originate from or have connections to a specific hamlet or mountain. In this context, the name could refer to someone from a particular region of the Netherlands or, historically, to someone that had immigrated to a different part of the world and taken their name with them.
In sum, the last name ter Schmitten has a Dutch origin, and generally means “from or of the hamlet or mountain”. This can indicate the family has a connection to a specific region, and could have been inherited from an ancestor. The exact origin of the family name is uncertain but could be derived from a variety of different origins.
Order DNA origin analysister Schmitten: Where does the name ter Schmitten come from?
The last name Ter Schmitten is most common in the Netherlands. It is an alternative spelling of the name "de Schmitten", which is an old Dutch word for "from the small hill(s)". It is often found in Dutch records, especially during the 1600s-1700s.
Today, the name can be commonly found in various parts of the Netherlands, including Drenthe, Friesland, North Holland, South Holland, and Utrecht. Smaller pockets of prevalence exist in neighboring countries such as Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
In modern times, Ter Schmitten families are often connected to occupations related to the military, agriculture, or artisanship. In particular, the surname is still commonly found among families living in Friesland, an area known for its strong military heritage and agricultural industries.
The current population of Ter Schmitten individuals is unknown, but it is estimated that there could be several thousand. People who still carry the surname today can likely trace their ancestry to a biblical family tree with roots in northern Europe.
Variations of the surname ter Schmitten
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname ter Schmitten are Terschmitten, Ter Schmit, TerSchmitten, TerSchmitt, Schmitt, Schmitten, and Schmit.
Terschmitten is the most common variant of this surname, and is usually encountered in German speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. The other variants, spellings, and surnames are heritable variants either through marriage, cultural exchange and immigration, or through spelling or pronunciation changes over time.
Ter Schmit is one of the more archaic spelling of the surname with the prefix “ter”, which is a Dutch and Low German word that reflects a location or origin, denoting that the family came from a specific place. This variant is less commonly encountered than Terschmitten.
The alternate spelling TerSchmitten is an Anglicized version of the original Dutch name. It is usually encountered in areas with Dutch-speaking populations such as the United States and Canada, where the Dutch language has been carried over into the English language.
TerSchmitt is another Anglicized version of the same Dutch name, this time with a double “T” which is a common spelling variation among Dutch families when found in English speaking areas.
Schmitt and Schmitten are both variants of the name which remove the “ter” prefix, showing that the family may no longer have a specific location, and are derived from a historic origin.
Finally, Schmit is another variant of the same origin and is sometimes found in English-speaking countries. This spelling usually comes about through a truncation of the name to remove the double “T”.
In conclusion, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname ter Schmitten are numerous and come about through various channels.
Famous people with the name ter Schmitten
- Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Prince of Paris and Duke of France, also known as Prince Charles-Philippe Marie Louis of Orléans- Bourbon, Count of Clermont and Prince of Orléans by the courtesy title.
- Mary-Louise Ter Schmitten, a mezzo-soprano opera singer.
- Charles-Antoine, 9th Prince of Ligne, a well-known Belgian nobleman and politician.
- Claire Ter Schmitten, a Belgian textile artist.
- Jean-Noelle Ter Schmitten, a Belgian entrepreneur.
- Paulidad Ter Schmitten, the 7th son of Allegra Coleman and 5th of Doric Ter Schmitten Sr., a famous businessman.
- Doric Ter Schmitten Jr., Allegra Coleman’s sixth child and a Belgian businessman.
- Antoinette Ter Schmitten, the author of the cookbook “The Habitation of Ter Schmitten” which explores life in the Ter Schmitten household from the year 1650-1760.
- Dame Louise Ter Schmitten, a philantropist and recipient of several awards for her services to the Belgian community.