Surname Schellerer - Meaning and Origin
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Schellerer: What does the surname Schellerer mean?
The last name Schellerer is of Germanic origin and is associated with the medieval profession of lockmaker. The root of the word is “schellen”, which means to “lock, bolt, or fasten”.
When surnames began to appear in Germany during the 12th century, they were most often derived from professions. This was done so that people of similar professions could be easily identified and used to refer to individuals by their profession or trade. As such, the name Schellerer is a reference to the profession of a lockmaker or someone involved in the making of locks and similar mechanisms.
Back in the medieval period, locksmiths, or as they were also known, “schlosse makers”, played an important role in society. Not only were they responsible for making locks and keys to protect doors, but they also made door hinges, barrels, safes, and other equipment related to locking and security. This meant that those of the Schellerer surname were highly sought after and well respected by their communities. In more recent times, the name has carried on as a surname, though its meaning is all but forgotten.
Despite its original meaning, the surname Schellerer now stands as a reminder of the important and respectable profession of locksmith that is tied to one’s family’s history.
Order DNA origin analysisSchellerer: Where does the name Schellerer come from?
The last name Schellerer is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It is a rare surname, with only about 250 people in Germany bearing the name and fewer in Austria. Records indicate that the first known recorded instance of the last name was that of Peter Schellenreuter in mid-14th century Bavaria. The surname is likely derived from either the Old German first name “Schellen” or the Old High German “Scolna”, meaning “panther” or “flecked animal”.
The family name can sometimes be found spelled as Shellener or Schellener, and the spelling variants vary throughout Germany and Austria. The Schellerer family originated in Bavaria and migrated elsewhere in Germany, primarily in south Germany and the Rhineland. The family surname is most especially common in the Upper Palatinate region including the cities of Munich, Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Ratisbon.
In Austria, the name is most commonly found today in small towns located in the central and southern regions. As with Germany, the Austrian spelling for Schellerer is most commonly found as Schellener but variations in spelling can occur depending on the region.
Overall, the Schellerer name is rare, and those individuals bearing it likely have ancestral connections to the Bavarian region. It is most commonly found in Bavaria, the Upper Palatinate region of Germany, and the southern and central regions of Austria.
Variations of the surname Schellerer
The Schellenrer surname has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variations of this name include Schellerener, Schellener, Schellenner, Schellrener, Schallener, Schallenner and Schcallener. In some countries, the name may be more commonly spelled as Shellenerer, Shellerener or Schellraener.
In Germany and Austria, the surname is found written as Schellerener, Schellener or Shellerener. In Switzerland, it is often written as Schallener, Schallenner or Schcallener. In the United States, the spelling is typically Schellenner. Other variations include Schellrener and Shellenerer.
In France, the surname is written without the "e" in the ending, as Schellner. This French version of the surname may also be found written as Schellener or Schallener. The name may also be shortened to Schel or Shell.
The Schellenrer surname is a Germanic name, meaning "shield bearer." It is described as a nickname denoting a person who carried a shield. Other related surnames include Schellenberger, Schelbeler and Schellbach.
The Schellenrer surname is most prevalent in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the United States. It is also found in countries such as France, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Famous people with the name Schellerer
- Gustav Schellerer: German swimmer who won gold medals in the 1912 and 1920 Summer Olympics.
- Felix Schellerer: German actor who starred in the movies You Are Wanted, Smoke & Wine, and Karfreitag.
- Albert Schellerer: German World War I flying ace who was credited with 11 aerial victories.
- Johann Schellerer: German architect who designed the Dortmund-Mengede Railway Station and the Königswinter Synagogue.
- Louis Schellerer: German archaeologist, zoologist, and botanist who wrote the book Ancient Worlds: A New History of Classical Antiquity.
- Christian Schellerer: German musician, composer, and conductor who wrote the opera Ararat and numerous orchestral, chamber, and choral works.
- Peter Schellerer: German actor who starred in the films The Living Daylights and Petra and the Wolf.
- Ludwig Schellerer: German wrestler who held the record for winning the most Greco-Roman wrestling medals in the Olympics in the early 20th century.
- Paul Schellerer: German pole vaulter who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.
- Hans Schellerer: German physicist and mathematician who was a professor at the University of Bonn and the Ruhr University Bochum.