Surname Schellhaß - Meaning and Origin
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Schellhaß: What does the surname Schellhaß mean?
The last name Schellhaß is of German origin and is a combination of the German words 'Schellen' and 'Hass.' 'Schellen' is derived from the Middle High German word 'schellen' meaning 'to chime' or 'ring.' This likely referred to someone who was a bell-ringer or a bellmaker. 'Hass' is the German word for 'hatred,' which could refer to a person with a passionate temper or one who was hostile and aggressive.
Schellhaß can be found mainly in the historic area of Westphalia, Germany. It is believed that the name began appearing in documents in the late 1600s and was presumably derived from a nickname. Early occurrences of the surname include a Barthold Scherlase in Westphalia in 1678 and two brothers, Jost and Cornelius Schellisch, documented in Westphalia in 1686.
The variant spellings of the name are numerous and include Schellaß, Schnehlhase, Schellhase, Shelly, Shellhaus, Schellehaus, Shellhauss, Schellhaas, and Schella. The name can also be translated from German to English as either 'bellhatred' or 'ringhatred.' Either interpretation is reflective of the two words that make up the surname.
Over time, the surname has been carried by many families who have descendants spread throughout the world today. Despite the seemingly ominous translation of the name, it is thought to represent a proud family who can trace their origins to the German town of Westphalia.
Order DNA origin analysisSchellhaß: Where does the name Schellhaß come from?
The last name Schellhaß is most common today in Germany, where thousands of people carry the name. It is an occupational surname, as it means "shell hat maker" in German. This name is likely to have originated in the western German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, given the abundance of people with the name in those areas.
In the 19th century, large numbers of of German people moved abroad to other parts of the world in search of a better life, and carried their surnames with them. As a result, the last name Schellhaß can now be found in much of Central America, especially in Mexico, as well as in parts of the United States and Canada. Interestingly, there are also a small number of people in East Asia (especially Japan and China) with the surname, which is thought to be descended from German immigrants from the colonial era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Overall, Schellhaß remains one of the most common surnames in Germany, but has also spread to other parts of the world due to its rich history. As a result, it is now a very familiar sight in many different countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Schellhaß
The surname Schellhaß can originate from several different locations around the world, with potential spellings varying by region. In Germany, “Schellhaß” is a form of the Germanic surname Scherl, one of the oldest German names and remains commonly used today.
In the United States, the surname can be found spelled in several ways, most commonly in its anglicized versions such as “Shellhase,” “Shellyhouse,” “Schellhaus,” or “Schellehaus.” In some cases, the form “Schilling” is used if the origins of the surname derive from Saxony.
Alternative spellings of the Germanic name can include “Schellhase” or “Schellhaus.” In particular dialects, surnames like “Schelhase” can be found, while other renditions include “Schellhas,” “Schillhas,” or “Schellhass.”
In some cases, the surname can also be spelled with two “l”s in the middle to form “Schelllhase.” In some regional areas such as the former Palatinate, Austria, and Switzerland, the spelling “Schellhaas” can be found. For those with an aristocratic background, a variant of the spelling can be in the form “von Schellhaß.”
Overall, the surname Schellhaß can occur in multiple versions around the world, though many of the variations could apply to any region. The multiple forms of the surname Schellhaß can come with fluctuations in spelling as well as changes in accents, and could result in the form of alternate surnames such as Schellehaus, Shellhase, or Schilling, depending on the region in which the surname is found.
Famous people with the name Schellhaß
- Robert Schellhaß: German actor, director, and librarian
- Hans Heinrich Schellhaß: German composite engineer and professor
- Franklin M. Schellhaß: German artist active in mainly lithography and photography
- Ramon Schellhaß: German violinist, conductor, and music pedagogue
- Maria Schellhaß: German international actress, producer, and lyricist
- Richard Schellhaß: German politician and Member of Parliament
- Marie Schöllhaß: German stage and movie actress
- Georg Schellhaß: German stage and film actor
- Arnold Schellhaß: German actor, director, and writer
- Karl Schellhaß: German Lutheran pastor and Reichsbundführer of RHG