All Submitted Surnames

usage
​
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Schacht German, Flemish
From Middle Low German and Middle Dutch schacht "shaft; pole, tunnel", a metonymic occupational name for someone who made shafts for tools or weapons, or who worked in a mineshaft.
Schade German, Dutch
From schade "damage, injury", a derivative of schaden "to do damage, harm, hurt", generally a nickname for a thug or clumsy person, or, more particularly, a robber knight, who raided others’ lands.
Schaefer German (?)
Originating in Germany SCHAEFER is a given surname meaning Shepard in German.
Schaff German
Name given to sheepherders, accounding to personal family history.
Schäffler German
Occupational name for a cooper, from an agent derivative of Middle High German scheffel "bushel".
Schaffner German, Jewish, German (Swiss)
German: occupational name for a steward or bailiff, variant of Schaffer.
Schalk German, Dutch
From Old High German scalc "servant, retainer, jester", which eventually evolved to mean "joker, rogue, knave". Could be an occupational name for an attendant or jester, a nickname for someone mischievous, or derived from a given name containing scalc as an element, such as Godschalk.
Schall German
Nickname for a braggart or for a market crier from Middle High German schal "noise" "bragging".
Schaller Upper German
From Middle High German word "schal," which means "noise," or "bragging," and as such is was thought to have originally been a nickname for a braggart, or for a market crier.
Schankweiler German
From the name of a German municipality, derived from Schank "bar, pub, tavern" and Weiler "hamlet".
Scharfe German
Means "sharp" in German.
S-charplaz Romansh
Derived from the given name S-cher and Romansh plaz "place".
Schattenstein Latvian, Russian, Jewish
Notes from Daniel Satten (1896-1972) say that Mordechai Block (1797-) returned to Russia (Latvia) with the surname Schattenstein... [more]
Schattner German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from any of several places named Schaten or Schatten, or a topographic name for someone living in a shady location, from Middle High German schate "shade", "protection".
Schatz German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a treasurer, from German Schatz ‘treasure’, Middle High German scha(t)z. It may also have been a nickname for a rich man (or ironically for a miser), or else for a well-liked person or a ladies’ favorite, from the use of the vocabulary word as a term of endearment... [more]
Schätzel German
German diminutive of Schatz, or a nickname for a lover meaning "little sweetheart" (from the same word used as a term of endearment).
Schau Norwegian
Variant of Skau.
Schauble German
Diminutive of Scaub
Schauer German
The Schauer surname comes from the Middle High German word "schouwen" meaning "to inspect;" as such, the name is thought to have originally been occupational, for some kind of inspector, perhaps an official of a market.
Schaumburg German, Belgian
Habitational name from any of the places called Schaumburg or Schauenburg in Germany, or Schauwberg in Brabant, Belgium. Derived from schūm "slag, cinder" and burg "mountain, hill".
Schaus German, Luxembourgish
A nickname for a simpleton, from schaus, a word in Rhenish Franconian and Lower Rhine dialects of German.
Schauwecker German
habitational name for someone from Schaubeck near Marbach (Württemberg).
Schechter Yiddish
Yiddish name meaning "butcher."
Scheele German, Dutch, Swedish (Rare)
From Middle Low German schele and Dutch scheel meaning "squinting, cross-eyed". A notable bearer was German-Swedish pharmaceutical chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786) who discovered oxygen and identified several other elements.
Scheepens Dutch
From Middle Dutch schēpen "alderman", a member of a municipal council.
Scheetz German
Anglicized version of the German surname, Schütz, "archer," "yeoman," "protect."
Scheid German, Jewish
Either a topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary (between two valleys etc.) or crossroads Middle High German scheide, a habitational name from any of various places called Scheidt Scheiden... [more]
Scheidegger German, German (Swiss)
Topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary or watershed. The name was derived from the Old German word SCHEIDE, meaning 'to part, to divide'. It may also have been a habitation name from any of the numerous places named with this word.
Scheidemann German
Denoted a person who is divorced or who lives in a valley, from Middle High German scheiden "to separate, to divorce (a couple)" and mann "man".
Schein German, Jewish
from Middle High German schīn German schein "shining brightness" hence a nickname for someone with either a radiant personality or possibly for someone living in a sunny location or a Jewish artificial name.
Scheliga Polish
Variant and more Americanized spelling of Szeliga.
Schelin Swedish
Combination of an unknown element (probably derived from a place name) and the common surname suffix -in.
Schell German
Means "noisy" or "loud" from the German word "schel"
Schellekens Dutch
Patronymic form of Schelleken, a diminutive of given names derived from scalc "servant, knight", such as Schalk or Godschalk... [more]
Schemmel German
Nickname for a disabled person, from Middle High German schemel "stool", which was used as a crutch by invalids.
Schenkel German, Dutch, Jewish
Means "leg, shank", an occupational name for a butcher or a nickname for someone with long or otherwise notable legs.
Scheper Dutch, Low German
Means "shepherd" in Dutch and Low German.
Scheremet German
German cognate of Şeremet.
Scherf German
from Middle High German and Middle Low German scherf a coin worth half a penny possibly applied as a nickname for a poor person.
Scherl German
Derived from the Middle Low German word “scherl” or “scherle,” which means “small shield.” It may have been from a person known for carrying a small shield, a person who lived near a small shield-shaped sign or symbol, or a person who lived in a place named after the small shield.
Scherlacher Banat Swabian
Surname was first found documented in Swabia southwest Germany in the Baden area.
Scherman German
German version of Sherman 1
Schermann German, Jewish
German cognate of Sherman 1 derived from the elements skeran "to cut, to shear" and Middle High German man "man".
Schermerhorn Dutch
From Schermerhorn, the name of a village in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands, derived from Dutch schermer meaning "fencer" and hoorn meaning "horn". It was borne by the Dutch politician Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn (1894-1977), a Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Scherzer German (Austrian)
Habitational name for someone from a place called Scherz in Switzerland
Schett Romansh
Truncated form of Tomaschett.
Scheuer German, Jewish
Derived from Middle High German schiure meaning "barn, granary", denoting somebody who lived in a barn of some sort.
Scheunemann German
It literally means someone who either lives near (or in, if poor &/or homeless) a barn or works within its general vicinity.
Scheunert German
Scheunert - deutsch - Besitzen einer Scheune... [more]
Scheving Icelandic, Danish (Rare)
From the name of the Danish town Skævinge whose name might be derived from Old Danish skap "something excavated".
Schiavo Italian
From the Italian word schiavo "slave".
Schiazza Italian
From chiazza "stain, blot", perhaps given to someone with a prominent birthmark. Might also from a regional dialect, meaning "piazza, town square".
Schick German
A nickname given to a person who's smart, stylish, and well-dressed.
Schicklgruber German (Austrian)
This was the surname of Maria Schicklgruber (April 15, 1795 - January 7, 1847), the grandmother of Adolf Hitler.
Schie German
From a nickname that meant "shy".
Schiechel German
From German "schuh", meaning "shoe".
Schiefelbein German
Habitational name from Schievelbein in Pomerania.
Schiff German, Jewish
From Middle High German Schif "ship", indicating the bearer was either a sailor, or lived in a house distinguished by a ship sign.
Schiffmann German
Occupational derived from the elements schiff "ship" and mann "man" meaning "shipman, German cognate of Shipman.
Schild German, Dutch
Occupational name for a maker or painter of shields, from Middle High German, Middle Dutch schilt "shield".
Schild Jewish
From German Schild "shield" or "(house) sign", applied either as an ornamental name or as a habitational name for someone who lived in a house distinguished by a sign.
Schilder Dutch
Means "painter" in Dutch, derived from Middle Dutch schildere "shield painter" (from schilt "shield"), originally denoting someone who painted coats of arms on shields. An occupational name for someone who painted houses, shields, or anything else.
Schildhauer German
First appeared during the Middle Ages in Central Europe/Germany. The name means "Shield-Maker" and suggests correlation to Blacksmiths or or other forms of metalwork in the time period.
Schildknecht German
From the occupation of a page or squire for a knight derived from schilht "shield" and kneht "servant".
Schiller German
Nickname for someone with a squint, from an agent derivative of Middle High German schilhen, schiln 'to squint'.
Schilling German, Dutch, Jewish
Means "shilling (coin)", possibly a nickname for a serf who had paid his rent or fee to his lord for his freedom. It could also be a habitational name derived from Schillingen, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany... [more]
Schiltz German
German: variant of Schilz and, in North America.... [more]
Schimmelpenninck Dutch, Flemish
From Dutch schimmel "mould, fungus; grey (colour)" and penning "coin, penny", a nickname for a miser; cognate to German Schimmelpfennig.
Schimmelpfennig German
From Middle High German schimel "mildew, mould" and pfennic "penny", a nickname for someone who was miserly or stingy with their money, hence it growing mouldy in its purse.
Schincariol Italian, Portuguese
Unknown meaning.
Schink Upper German
Nickname for someone with long or otherwise remarkable legs, from Middle High German schinke "thigh, leg". Compare Schenkel.
Schink Dutch
Variant of Schenk.
Schinker German
Unknown, though I would very much like to know. Possible Hungarian influence as well as German.
Schippers Dutch
Patronymic form of Schipper.
Schirmacher German
occupational name for someone who makes harnesses and bridles for horses from Middle High German geschirre "harness" and macher "maker".
Schirokauer German, Yiddish
Derived from the town of Sieraków in the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.
Schlanser Romansh
Derived from the place name Schlans, a former municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Schlatter Upper German
Topographic name from Middle High German slâte "reedy place", or a habitational name from any of several places named Schlatt, from the same word.
Schleicher German
Could derive from the word schleifen meaning "to grind" but most likely is derived from the word schleicher "to sneak, creeper".
Schleifer German
Derived from the word schleifen "to grind, polish".
Schleiger German
Occupational name for a maker or seller of scarves and veils from Middle Low German sleiger sleier "(head)scarf".
Schlemmer German
Derived from a Middle High German word meaning "feast" and thus used as a nickname for a "gourmet".
Schlep German
Probably a nickname or occupational name for a laborer or carrier, especially in a mine, from Middle Low German slepen, Middle High German slepen 'to drag or carry (a load)' (modern German schleppen, schleifen).
Schley German
Name for someone living by the Schlei river.
Schliwka German
A notable person bearing the surname was athlete Gunther Schliwka.
Schloss German
Shortened form of Schlosser.
Schlossberg German
Ornamental name composed of German Schloss ‘castle’ + Berg ‘mountain’, ‘hill’.
Schlote German
literal meaning: smokestack
Schlott German, Low German
Occupational name for a locksmith, from Middle Low German slot 'lock'.
Schmadeka Low German
Low German variant of Schmied + the diminutive suffix -ke
Schmal German
Derived from the Middle High German and Middle Low German word smal meaning "small, slight, thin". It was originally used as a nickname.
Schmaltz German (Rare), German (Austrian, Rare)
Schmaltz is a German and Austrian surname. It was used as an occupational surname for chandlers.
Schmeichel German
Nickname for a flatterer, derived from Middle High German smeichen literally meaning "to flatter". Famous bearers of this surname include Peter Schmeichel (1963-) and his son Kasper Schmeichel (1986-), both of whom are Danish soccer goalkeepers.
Schmelzer German
occupational name for a smelter from an agent derivative of Middle High German smelzen German schmelzen "to smelt metal" or "make glass".
Schmidlapp German
Derived from Middle High German smit "smith, metalworker" and lap(pe) meaning "cloth, patch, rag".
Schmidlkofer German, German (Austrian)
Occupational name for a farmer who was also a blacksmith, derived from a diminutive of Middle High German smit meaning "smith" and the suffix -kofer (a variant of -hofer).
Schmidtberger German
A distinguishing name for someone named Berger who worked as a blacksmith or a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Schmidtberg in Bavaria and Switzerland.
Schmidtke German
Diminutive form of Schmidt.
Schmidtová f Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of the German surname Schmidt through the feminine suffix -ová.
Schmiedt German
Variant spelling of Schmidt.
Schmoeckel German (East Prussian)
Originally Smekel. In the 17th century the ‘Sm’ in Low German was gradually replaced by the ‘Schm’ from High German. ... [more]
Schmon Romansh
Contracted form of the given names Schimun and Schamun.
Schmuck German, German (Austrian)
From Middle High German smuc meaning "jewel", "finery", hence a metonymic occupational name for a jeweler, or a nickname for someone who wore a prominent jewel or ornament.North German: nickname from Middle Low German smuck meaning "neat", "dainty".
Schnapp German
Derived from Middle High German snappen meaning "to chatter", or Middle Low German snappen meaning "to grab". This was originally a nickname for a chatterer or a greedy person.
Schnee German, Popular Culture
A German surname meaning "snow". One fictional bearer of this surname is Weiss Schnee, a main character from the popular web series RWBY.
Schnee German, Jewish, Alsatian
from German schnee "snow" Middle High German sne sneo a nickname for someone with white hair or an exceptionally pale complexion... [more]
Schneid German, Jewish
Variant form of Schneider. Means "cut"
Schneller German
Means “faster” in German
Schnieder German
North German and American variant of Schneider
Schöb Romansh
Derived from the given name Eusebius.
Schock German
German origin. Means "shock" in German, as in surprise.
Schoen German, Jewish
From German schön, Middle High German schoene "fine, beautiful; refined, friendly, nice", a nickname for a handsome or pleasant man. As a Jewish name, it’s usually ornamental.
Schoen Dutch
Means "shoe" in Dutch, an occupational name for a shoemaker.
Schoenbeck German, Jewish
Means "beutiful stream" in German.
Schoenberg German, Jewish
Means "beautiful mountain" in German
Schoene German
German (Schöne): variant of Schoen 1.
Schoenmaker Dutch
Means "shoemaker" in Dutch.
Schoenwetter German
German (Schönwetter): nickname for someone with a happy disposition, from Middle High German schœn ‘beautiful’, ‘fine’, ‘nice’ + wetter ‘weather’.
Scholem Yiddish
From the given name Scholem.
Scholes English
A name for a person who lives in a shed.
Schollenberger German
Habitational name for someone from a place called Schollenberg.
Scholten Dutch
From Middle Dutch scholte "sheriff, bailiff, village headman" or a patronymic of the given name Scholte.
Scholtes Dutch
Patronymic form of Scholte.
Schömer German
Nickname for an offensive person, from Middle High German schemen "to insult."
Schomer Jewish
From Hebrew shomer "watchman".
Schommer German
"one who was a gossip, a vagabond or rascal"... [more]
Schön German, Swedish
Derived from Middle High German schoene "beautiful, friendly".
Schönenberger German
Habitational name for someone from any of several places in Germany and Switzerland named Schönenberg.
Schonewille Dutch
Perhaps a nickname for an attractive person, derived from Middle Dutch schône meaning "beautiful, clean, pure" and wille meaning "to want, to desire".
Schönrock German
Either a metonymic occupational name for a baker from Middle High German schœn "fine" (see Schoen ) and rogge "rye"... [more]
Schools Dutch
Variant of School.
Schopenhauer German
Derived from German schöpfen meaning "to scoop, ladle" and hauen meaning "to chop", referring to a maker of wooden and metal scoops and buckets. This name was borne by the German pessimist philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), the author of the 1818 book The World as Will and Representation among other works.
Schops German
Means "scoop maker"
Schorgl German (Austrian)
Austrian meaning, “Lover of the land”, used by farmers.
Schorr German
In the south a topographic name from Middle High German schor(re) 'steep rock', 'rocky shore'.
Schorsch German
Possibly from the given name George, pronounced SHORSH in South-Western Germany. As a Jewish name, it may come from the surname Shor.
Schortgen German
Of a German origin, the fist part meaning short or small.
Schot Dutch
Name originates from the German name Schott, meaning peddler. Shortened in late 17th century.
Schotte German
From schotte, an ethnic name for a Scottish person or somebody of such descent.
Schottenstein German, Jewish
Ornamental name meaning "bulkhead stone" in German.
Schottlander German, Jewish
From German Schottland "Scotland" and, in some cases, denoted an immigrant from Scotland or Ireland. As a Jewish surname, it is most often an ornamental name.
Schottler German
Occupational name for a wood turner, Middle Low German scoteler (an agent derivative of scotel ‘wooden bowl’).
Schou Danish
Topographic name for someone who lived by a small wood, from a Germanized form of Danish skov 'wood', 'forest', 'copse'.
Schoug Swedish
Variant of Skog.
Schough Swedish (Rare)
Variant of Swedish Skog or of German Schug.
Schram German, English, Yiddish
Derived from German Schramme (Middle High German schram(me)) and Yiddish shram, all of which mean "scar".
Schramm German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic nickname for a person with a scar, from Middle High German schram(me), German Schramme, Yiddish shram ‘scar’.
Schreiner German
Occupational surname for a joiner (maker of wooden furniture), ultimately from Middle High German schrīnære.
Schrepfer German (Swiss), German
Derived from from Middle High German schrepfer "barber-surgeon's assistant", ultimately from the verb schrepfen "to bleed someone".
Schreuder Dutch
Dutch cognate of Schröder 1 and Schröder 2.
Schreur Dutch
Shortened form of Schreuder.
Schrijver Dutch
Means "scribe, clerk, writer" in Dutch, cognate to German Schreiber.
Schrijvers Dutch
Dutch cognate of Scriven. A famous bearer was the Dutch soccer goalkeeper Piet Schrijvers (1946-2022).
Schrock German
Some think that the last name Schrock comes from the German word which meant something along the lines of "Jump" or "Leaps" and was probably a nickname to someone who was a great jumper, or someone who was easily startled.
Schrödinger German
Denoted a person from Schröding, a old placename in Bavaria.
Schroot Dutch
Possibly an altered form of des Groot via Sgroot, meaning "son of the Groot", itself a byname meaning "great, large". Alternatively, it could be related to schroot "scrap (metal)" or the older scrode "to cut", an occupational name for someone who worked with metal, or perhaps a tailor.
Schruijer Dutch
Possibly a variant form of Schreier, from Dutch schreien or schreeuwen, meaning "to scream, shout, yell".
Schucan Romansh
Derived from the given name Joachim.
Schuch German
Likely derived from SCHUMACHER (Shoe Maker)
Schue German, Jewish
Variant of Schuh.
Schueler German
The surname Schueler was first found in southern Germany, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history.
Schuft German
Means "wretch, blackguard" in German.
Schug American, German
From the German word Schuh "shoe". ... [more]
Schuh German, Jewish
Occupational name for a maker or repairer of shoes, derived from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe". In some cases, it may have denoted a person to a house distinguished by the sign of a shoe.
Schuknecht German
Occupational name for a shoemaker’s assistant, from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe" + knecht meaning "journeyman", "assistant".
Schuler Jewish
Occupational name for a Talmudic scholar or the sexton of a synagogue, from an agent derivative of Yiddish shul "synagogue".
Schuller German
Possibly a habitational name from Schüller in the Eifel.
Schulman Yiddish
Refers to a person, typically a Rabbi, who works at a Shul (Synagogue in Yiddish.)... [more]
Schuman German
From the old german scuoh "shoe" and man "man", an occupational name for a shoe maker
Schumer Jewish, German (Rare)
Possibly taken from Middle Low German schumer meaning "good for nothing, vagabond". Notable bearers are American comedian Amy Schumer (b. 1981) and American politician Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (b... [more]
Schurr German
From a nickname meaning "quarrel" in German, given to a hot-tempered person.
Schürrle German
Variant of Schurr. A famous bearer is the retired German soccer player André Schürrle (1990-).
Apply this search to the main name collection