Contents [hide]

Schmidt History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Schmidt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany

Early Origins of the Schmidt family

The surname Schmidt was first found in the northern provinces that were later to make up Prussia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region.

Early History of the Schmidt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schmidt research. Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1537, 1564, 1618, 1630, 1648, 1708, 1752, 1764, 1766, 1768, 1787, 1815, 1817, 1837, 1838, 1849, 1853, 1854, 1875, 1876, 1880 and 1918 are included under the topic Early Schmidt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schmidt Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Schmidt include Schmidt (northern Germany), Schmid (southern Germany), Schmitz (Rhineland), Schmied, Schmitt, Smith (English) and many more.

Early Notables of the Schmidt family

Notable figures of the time with the name Schmidt were

Bernhard Schmidt (1630-1708), known as "Father Smith", who was a famous organ builder
Georg Philipp Schmidt (1766-1849), known as "Schmidt from Luebeck", who was a physician and Romantic poet
Friederich Wilhelm Schmidt (1764-1838), who was a Prussian pastor and poet
Karl von Schmidt (1817-1875), Prussian cavalry general, who fought in the Franco-German war and later made the Prussian calvary the most efficient calvary then in existence

Schmidt World Ranking

In the United States, the name Schmidt is the 204^th most popular surname with an estimated 126,837 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Schmidt is ranked the 196^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,008 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Schmidt is the 484^th popular surname with an estimated 9,229 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Schmidt as 328^th with 10,912 people. 4 Netherlands ranks Schmidt as 343^rd with 4,509 people. 5

Schmidt migration to the United States +

Since medieval times, the state of Prussia has played an important part in the history of Germany. The state's military powers were historically very strong, and endured until after the Second World War, when the territory was broken up and divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. A spurt of migration followed, with some Prussians going elsewhere in Europe and many others crossing the ocean to North America. Most entered the United States through Philadelphia. Some remained there, while more moved on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others traveled to Canada and settled Ontario and the prairie provinces. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Schmidt or a variant listed above:

Schmidt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Johannes Schmidt, who settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania between 1683 and 1709

Schmidt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Arnd Schmidt, who emigrated with his family to England or America in 1709
Zacharias Schmidt, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 6
Anna Maria Schmidt, who settled in New York State in 1710
Anna Barbara Schmidt, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 6
Anna Eliz Schmidt, aged 54, who landed in New York in 1710 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Schmidt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sarah Schmidt, aged 3, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1800 6
Anna Eliz Schmidt, aged 42, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 6
Anthony Schmidt, aged 19, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 6
Philip Peter Schmidt, who landed in New York, NY in 1832 6
Anna Cathar Schmidt, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Schmidt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alexander Schmidt, aged 3, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 6
August L Schmidt, who arrived in America in 1907 6

Schmidt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schmidt Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Adam Schmidt, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Heinrich Schmidt, who arrived in Canada in 1783
Mr. Jacob Schmidt U.E., (Smith) who settled in Canada c. 1784 7
Private. Jacob Schmidt Sr., U.E. (b. 1739) born in New Jersey, USA who settled in Glanford [Hamilton], Northumberland County, Ontario c. 1784 he served in the New Jersey Volunteers, married to Elizabeth Lewis, he died in 1821 7

Schmidt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Catherine Schmidt, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Leontine" departing 28th May 1847 from Bremen, Germany; the ship arrived on 28th July 1847 but she died on board 8
Mrs. Elizabeth Schmidt, aged 36 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Leontine" departing 28th May 1847 from Bremen, Germany; the ship arrived on 28th July 1847 but she died on board 8
W G Schmidt, who arrived in Quebec in 1850
Apolina Schmidt, aged 26, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
August Schmidt, aged 30, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1855
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Schmidt Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Adolf Schmidt, aged 27, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
Anna Schmidt, aged 28, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
Regina Schmidt, aged 25, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902

Schmidt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Schmidt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

August Schmidt, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 9
Franz Schmidt, aged 49, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 10
Frederich Schmidt, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 10

Schmidt migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Schmidt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Schmidt, aged 58, a painter, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Sarah Schmidt, aged 24, a sempstress, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Mary Schmidt, aged 22, a sempstress, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Martha Schmidt, aged 20, a sempstress, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Mr. John Schmidt, (b. 1782), aged 58, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Schmidt (post 1700) +

Arthur Robert Schmidt (1937-2023), American two-time Academy Award winning film editor, known for his work on Sunset Blvd. (1950) and Some Like It Hot (1959), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and Forrest Gump (1994), as well as the Back to the Future (1985) and many more
Benno Charles Schmidt Jr. (1942-2023), American academic and education executive, 20th President of Yale University
Justin Orvel Schmidt (1947-2023), American entomologist, co-author of Insect Defenses: Adaptive Mechanisms and Strategies of Prey and Predators
Maarten Schmidt (1929-2022), Dutch-born American astronomer who measured the distances of quasars
Roy Lee Schmidt (1942-2022), American NFL offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and the Minnesota Vikings (1967-1971)
Frank L. Schmidt (1944-2021), American psychology professor at the University of Iowa known for his work in personnel selection and employment testing
Axel Frederik Preben Schmidt (1939-2018), Brazilian gold and silver medalist sailor from Rio de Janeiro at the 1959 and 1963 Pan American Games
Howard Anthony Schmidt (1949-2017), American security expert, Cyber Security Coordinator of the Obama Administration (2009-2012)
Gregory P. Schmidt (1947-2016), American politician, Secretary of the Senate, California
Eric Schmidt (1955-2011), American executive chairman, former CEO, of Google and 136th-richest person in the world in 2011
... (Another 162 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Schmidt family +

Bismarck

Wilhelm Schmidt (1910-1986), German Obermaschinist serving aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 12
Werner Schmidt (1923-1941), German Maschinengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 12
Walter Schmidt (1918-1941), German Signalgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 12
Richard Schmidt (1919-1941), German Matrosenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 12
Paul Schmidt (1920-1941), German Verwaltungsgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 12
... (Another 10 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Alan Hartley Schmidt (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Hilton Park, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 13

RMS Titanic

Mr. August Schmidt (d. 1912), aged 26, American Second Class passenger from Newark, New Jersey who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 14

SS Atlantic

Jacob Schmidt, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking
Joh. Schmidt, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Charles William Schmidt, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

Triangle Waist Company

Mrs. Theresa Schmidt (b. 1879), Czechoslovakian Jewish garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she died in the fire 15

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 95)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847HermanVonBeckerath.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (retrieved on 3rd August 2021.) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire