Surname Schellhaaß - Meaning and Origin
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Schellhaaß: What does the surname Schellhaaß mean?
The last name Schellhaaß is of German origin and has a variety of possible meanings. It could have derived from an old German word meaning “shield” or “protection”. It is also possible that it was a name given to someone in the metalworking or armorer trades, since "Shäller" was a common term used in this profession. Another possible explanation of the name is that it could have been derived from the Old High German word “schaller” meaning "bell". This name then could have referred to someone who made bells or was a bell-ringer.
Another conjecture is that the last name may have been derived from an old occupational name. Examples of such names from German lands include Schneider (tailor), Bäcker (baker), Müller (mill worker), Schultheiss (bailiff) and Schreiber (scribe or clerk). It is not uncommon for last names in Germany to have both familial and occupational origins, which could explain the variety of potential meanings for Schellhaaß.
The first known use of the name was recorded in 1445 in the town of Würzburg in southern Germany. Over the centuries, the Schellhaaß family has endured and grown, both in Germany and throughout Europe. It is now considered to be a fairly common surname in Germany, with most of the bearers living in the Rhineland region.
In short, the exact meaning of the last name Schellhaaß is unknown, but it is likely derived from an occupation, element of protection, or bell-making.
Order DNA origin analysisSchellhaaß: Where does the name Schellhaaß come from?
The last name Schellhaaß is mostly found in Germany today. It is often considered to be a German surname, although it has variants in other countries. In Germany, Schellhaaß is an old name from the northern and central regions, specifically from the area around the Hesse region and in and around the city of Frankfurt.
Schellhaaß is a fairly uncommon name in Germany, with only about 450 people bearing the surname in 2017 according to a website called Vornamensstatistik (Name Statistics). The numbers are even lower in other countries, with fewer than ten in the United States and even fewer in other countries.
The original form of the name first appeared in old German references, such as court documents and land registration books. It is likely that the name has old German/Austrian roots. The word ‘schall’ is derived from the old German word ‘scall’ meaning ‘herald’, which implies the bearer of the last name originally had some kind of heralding role in their community. ‘Haaß’ is also an old German name that means ‘fence’ or ‘protector’, which could suggest the original bearer of the name held a position of defense in their community.
Overall, the last name Schellhaaß is more common in Germany than in other countries, but it is still a fairly rare name. The name has old German roots, and its original meaning suggests that the bearer of the name was a protector or defender in their community.
Variations of the surname Schellhaaß
The surname Schellhaaß is of German origin and comes from the word "Schellhase" which translates as "noisy rabbit". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin of this surname include Schellhase, Shellhasse, Schellhaas, Schellhass, Shellaas, Shellhase, Shellhaus and Schellhaus.
The surname Schellhaaß is a patronymic surname which means it is derived from the name of the father of the original bearer. The prefix "Schel" usually denotes a variant form of "Schellhaaß". This surname was most likely first used as a nickname given to one who exhibited qualities associated with the animal mentioned in the surname.
Variations in spelling in the past several centuries have been a common occurrence in German. Many variations in spelling occurred before modern printing and writing methods were standardised. Some of these variations originated from variations in dialect as well as scribal errors and misreadings. Furthermore, when German immigrants arrived in other countries such as the United States, the spelling of their surname was often changed due to its foreign nature.
The surname has also been associated with other animals like foxes as well as birds, specifically ducks. The suffix "-hase" can be used to mean hare or rabbit, however, the exact origin of this surname is unknown. It is likely that each family had a unique meaning or reason for why they took on such a surname.
In the modern age, the surname Schellhaaß has somewhat evolved and appears with various other spellings and phonetic variations all over the world. It can be found in many places, with the majority of its bearers living in Germany, the United States, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and West Pomerania.
Famous people with the name Schellhaaß
- Henry Schellhaaß: Henry Schellhaaß (born 6 January 1867: death date unknown) was a Prussian officer who served as a divisional commander in the German Army during World War I, most notably during the Battle of the Marne in 1914.
- Ferdinand Schellhaaß: Ferdinand Schellhaaß (1 December 1918: 14 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace who was credited with 54 enemy aircraft shot down in 1939 and 1940 on the Western Front, qualifying him as a top-scoring ace of the Battle of Britain.
- Cornelia Schellhaaß: Cornelia Schellhaaß (25 September 1961: 5 December 2003) was a German sculptor and painter who specialized in the transformation of photographs into works of art, often blending pictorial elements from multiple pictures into a single work of art.
- Tobias Schellhaaß: Tobias Schellhaaß (born 5 October 1967) is a German actor, television presenter and producer, most famous for appearing in the 1980s television series 'Kir Royal', 'Berliner Geschichten' and 'Anwalt Abel'.
- Christopher Schellhaaß: Christopher Schellhaaß (born 28 October 1988) is a German actor, best known for playing the lead role in the RTL drama series 'Der Lehrer' from 2011 to 2013.
- Sabine Schellhaaß: Sabine Schellhaaß (born 31 October 1961) is a German journalist, blogger and author, best known for her long-running column 'Sonnabend im Café' in the 'Welt am Sonntag' newspaper.