Surname Schallmair - Meaning and Origin
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Schallmair: What does the surname Schallmair mean?
Schallmair is a surname of Germanic origin. Derived from the Middle High German, it is composed of the elements "schal" or "schall", meaning “shout or exclamation" and "mair" meaning "mayor or administrator". This surname is likely to have been an occupational name for a mayor or town administrator, who would have been responsible for helping to maintain law and order within the city.
The first known records of the Schallmair surname date back to medieval times, when it was found in areas of present-day Germany and Austria. As a result, the surname is likely to have originated in these areas and spread to other parts of Europe through migration. However, it is also possible that it could have originated elsewhere in Central and Western Europe, as there were many mayors and administrators travelling and working outside their hometowns in medieval times.
Today, the Schallmair surname can be found in many countries around the world, including the United States, Germany, Austria, and Australia. In many cases, the family members have kept the surname, although there are also many who have changed it due to migration, intermarriage, or other reasons.
Order DNA origin analysisSchallmair: Where does the name Schallmair come from?
The last name Schallmair is a German-language surname whose origin is not totally clear, though it may be derived from the German words "schall" (meaning "echo") and "mair" (meaning "mayor"). Depending on the region of origin, it might also have derived from a personal or family name.
Today, the surname Schallmair is quite common in certain parts of Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. In fact, according to Ancestry.com, Schallmair is one of the top 1,000 surnames in Germany, and it's the 232nd-most common German-language surname in Austria. In addition, it is also found in other nearby countries, such as Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
In the U.S., Schallmair is not nearly as common as in Europe. According to the United States Census Bureau, less than 100 U.S. residents were identified as bearing the surname in the 2010 census. That said, the name does have a presence in the country - especially in larger cities such as New York City and Chicago.
In short, the surname Schallmair is still relatively common in Europe, but it has yet to gain a widespread presence in the United States. That said, as more people from the countries of origin emigrate to America, the surname's presence is likely to grow in the future.
Variations of the surname Schallmair
The surname Schallmair is a German surname with many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some common variants of Schallmair include Schalmaier, Schallmaier, Schalmeyer, Schmalmair, Schallmeyer, Scholmayer and Schmolmair. The surname Schallmair has also been used interchangeably with surnames containing the root words “schal” or “schol”, such as Schalbach, Schalbusch, Schola, Scholbach, Scholbusch and Scholl. It is believed that Schallmair may have initially been an occupational surname, denoting a maker of salt or an apprentice to a salt maker, as salt was an important resource in Germany in the past.
Schallmair is derived from the German words “schall” meaning “salt” and “mair” meaning “maker” or “dealer”. It is thought that the surname arose in what is now Germany and Bavaria in the 1200s and 1300s and spread around Europe during the 1700s. The spelling of Schallmair has changed through the years and evolved into many different variants and spellings. In some cases, Schallmair has been Anglicized into the surname Shalhamer, Shalhamer, Schohlmacher, Shalemar and Shalemar.
Today, Schallmair is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States. It is estimated to have over 10 thousand bearers worldwide, making it one of the more widespread German surnames.
Famous people with the name Schallmair
- Martina Schallmair, professional German pair skater
- Dangl Schallmair, Austrian sculptor
- Erich Schallmair, arachnologist
- Heinz Schallmair, German baritone
- Brigitte Schallmair, German opera singer
- Johanna Schallmair, art historian
- Günter Schallmair, German classical conductor
- Florian Schallmair, German politician
- Friedrich Schallmair, German theologian
- Ingrid Schallmair, Austrian painter