Schmeltzer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Schmeltzer

What does the name Schmeltzer mean?

The surname Schmeltzer is a Westphalian-German nickname. Such surnames were very common in Westphalia. They were adapted from traditional eke-names, or added names, that described physical characteristics of their bearers. Schmeltzer is a hereditary surname for a person who was either wild or clamorous. The name was originally derived from the German word "schel," which means "noisy" or "loud."

Early Origins of the Schmeltzer family

The surname Schmeltzer was first found in Westphalia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the German nation. As early as 1526 they had their seat at the manor Schellenberg near Essen.

Early History of the Schmeltzer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schmeltzer research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1562, 1620, 1648, 1680, 1701, 1763, 1774, 1775, 1808, 1809 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Schmeltzer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schmeltzer Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Schmeltzer include Schell, Schelle, Schelling, Scheller and others.

Early Notables of the Schmeltzer family

Notables of the period with the name Schmeltzer were Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (ca. 1620-1680), an Austrian composer and violinist ; Johann Schelle (1648-1701), a German Baroque composer; Friedrich Wilhelm von Schelling (1775-1854, ennobled...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schmeltzer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schmeltzer Ranking

In the United States, the name Schmeltzer is the 18,455^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Schmeltzer migration to the United States +

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:

Schmeltzer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johanes Schmeltzer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
Wendel Schmeltzer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
Johann Adam Schmeltzer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
Johann Peter Schmeltzer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
Andreas Schmeltzer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Schmeltzer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Valentin Schmeltzer, who arrived in New York, NY in 1836 2

Schmeltzer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schmeltzer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Apollonia Schmeltzer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Barbara Schmeltzer, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757

Contemporary Notables of the name Schmeltzer (post 1700) +

Lazar Lipa Schmeltzer (b. 1978), American Hasidic singer and composer, nicknamed "the Jewish Elvis"

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)