Surname Schmidgen - Meaning and Origin

Schmidgen: What does the surname Schmidgen mean?

Schmidgen is a German surname. This surname is derived from the medieval personal name ‘Schmidt’, which in turn is derived from the German word ‘schmied’ meaning ‘blacksmith’. Consequently, the last name ‘Schmidgen’ is thought to mean ‘son of a blacksmith’ and was almost certainly an occupational name indicating a person who was a blacksmith or the son of a blacksmith.

The word ‘schmied’ originates from the old High German ‘smid’, itself derived from the Proto-Germanic ‘smiþaz’, meaning ‘one who works with metal’. A blacksmith is a person who works with metal to make things by forging and welding. Historically, the concept of a blacksmith dates back to ancient times when ironworking emerged as a key technology of civilizations in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Therefore, the surname Schmidgen is associated with centuries of history, metalworking, and craftsmanship.

The name is not common today, however it has been found to be widely spread in Germany during the 18th and 19th centuries. During this time, Schmidgen is known to have been the main surname in the villages of Schneverdingen in Lower Saxony and Eggstätt-Hemhaut in Bavaria. Additionally, Schmidgen is also known to have been among the top 100 surnames found in the city of Berlin in the mid-20th century.

Schmidgen: Where does the name Schmidgen come from?

The last name Schmidgen is most commonly found in Germany, and more specifically in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. It is a relatively uncommon name even in Germany; a study conducted in 2017 revealed the last name Schmidgen only appears about 5,000 times in phone books and public records.

In the United States, the name Schmidgen is found primarily in the Midwest and the South. Specifically, the name appears with some frequency in Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin. However, due to the numbers, it is classified as a rare last name in America. It has been estimated that fewer than 700 people living in the US carry the name Schmidgen.

When looking at global population numbers, the last name Schmidgen appears to fare slightly better, with the majority of Schmidgens living in Germany and the United States. Furthermore, it is possible to also find occurrences of the name in Sweden, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Overall, it appears that the name Schmidgen is quite uncommon, but can be found with greater frequency in Germany, the United States, and a few other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Schmidgen

The surname Schmidgen is of Germanic origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Schmidtgen, Schmidagen, Schmidgan, Schmidthan, Schmidthen, Schmidjan, Schmidjon, Shmidgen, Shmidtgen, and Schmitgen. It is a German-language surname derived from the interjection “smitten”, meaning ‘proud’, 'honorable', 'high'.

Schmidgen is an early Germanic surname primarily found in the Rheinland area of Germany. It is an accepted variation of the name Schmidt, meaning ‘smith’, and is derived from the Old High German word "smith", meaning 'metalworker'. This surname is an occupational name for a blacksmith or a metallurgist, and was often used to distinguish blacksmiths as one of their primary occupations.

The spelling variations of the surname Schmidgen are numerous, as is usually the case for patronymic German surnames, due to frequent changes made by notaries, government officials, and even by the individuals themselves in the attempt to discover an individual's heritage and family name. Variants of this surname, as well as related surnames, include Schmidtgen, Schmidagen, Schmidgan, Schmidthan, Schmidthen, Schmidjan, Schmidjon, Shmidgen, Shmidtgen, and Schmitgen.

The surnames are widely spread throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, France, England, and Austria, where these surnames are still to be found in large numbers. Additionally, immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries carried the name Schmidgen to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States.

Famous people with the name Schmidgen

• Andreas Schmidgen, German skier and winner of two silver medals at the 1976 Olympic Games
• Wolfgang Schmidgen, German film director and writer
• Axel Schmidgen, German actor, known for playing the role of Inspector Techer in the TV series "Der letzte Bulle"
• Karoline Schmidgen, German journalist and radio producer
• Bernhard Schmidgen, German theologian and professor at the University of Münster
• Ruth Schmidgen, German journalist and author
• Elisabeth Schmidgen, German actress, known for her roles in "Finding Me" and "Wolkenstein 3: Teufelsbach"
• Florian Schmidgen, German lawyer and former President of the German Federal Bar Association
• Julian Schmidgen, German professional football player
• Jakob Schmidgen, German footballer and coach

Other surnames

Schmidge