Surname Schwager - Meaning and Origin
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A Genetic Journey: Uncovering the History of the Surname Schwager through an iGENEA DNA Test
As a curious individual seeking an in-depth knowledge of my roots, I took an iGENEA DNA test. The findings offered a comprehensive insight into the history and journey of my surname, Schwager. The test delved into both my maternal and paternal lineages, illustrating a captivating genetic story that connects me to Central Europe.
L. Schwager
read moreSchwager: What does the surname Schwager mean?
The surname Schwager is a German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word “swagher” meaning “employee” or “servant.” It is commonly found in parts of Germany, such as Bavaria, of which the original bearer of the name was likely a servant or tenant of a particular noble family.
In some instances, the surname is used to denote a messenger or courier. This was likely a result of the Middle High German word "swere" which translates to "deliver" or "guide".
Throughout early Germanic tribal times, names such as Schwager were used as a way to indicate someone's role in society. It could also be used to identify what family an individual belonged to. Records show that this surname often appeared in the annotation of lands, legal documents, and civil records.
Today, the surname Schwager is predominantly found in Germany, but may appear in other countries in which people with the surname have immigrated to. It is unknown exactly how many people have the surname, but it is certainly not a common one.
Regardless of the exact number, the name Schwager represents an important part of Germanic heritage and is likely to remain in use for many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwager: Where does the name Schwager come from?
The last name Schwager is common today primarily in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This surname originated in the German-speaking areas of Europe and is very common in these countries as a result. Examples include Germany's second-most populous state, Bavaria, where Schwager is the 53rd-most-common surname, and Vienna, where it ranks as the 17th most common surname. Swiss records show the name is also quite popular there, with nearly 3,000 occurrences across the entire country, making it the 105th most popular surname in Switzerland.
The name is also found in other German-speaking areas throughout Europe, such as Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and parts of Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, and other eastern European countries that were once part of the German-speaking world.
Outside of Europe, communities of German-speaking immigrants have kept the name alive in places like the US, Canada, Australia, and even Brazil. These far-reaching locations all have at least a few dozen people with the last name Schwager, although none of them have enough significant populations of German-speaking expats to make the name as popular as it is in Europe.
Variations of the surname Schwager
The surname Schwager is an occupational name based on the Middle High German name “Schwager”, which translates to “sworn brother” or “wedding companion”. This surname has many variants, spellings and associated surnames.
Variants include Schwaegel, Schwaiger,Schwaigerle, Schwaigle, Schwetter and Schwetzel. Certain spellings are also seen such as Schwagöer, Schwagöyer and Schwagyer.
Associated surnames include Schwieger, Schwieg, Schwiegermaier, Schwiegeröder and Schwiegerhoff. Regional spelling variations include Shvager and Shvagerova. Slavic variants include Swager and Svager, while Jewish Ashkenazi variants include Shvager.
Other spelling variations include Schweiger, Swaiger and Schweigert. In some regions, the last syllable of the surname may end with a "y" or “er” ending such as Swager, Swagyer and Swaiger.
All of these variants and spellings may be used for the same origin of the surname Schwager. Depending on the region and culture, the variants, spellings and associated names may vary but are all based on the origin of the name Schwager.
Famous people with the name Schwager
- Jack Schwager: Market Wizard, hedge fund manager, prolific financial author and columnist.
- Scott Schwager: Fortune 500 executive and executive leadership coach.
- Bill Schwager: Former General Manager of the Chicago White Sox. He was the architect behind the team's success from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
- Dr. Henry Schwager: Vice president and executive dean of the Global Institute of Management at Michigan State University.
- Florian Schwager: Established pianist, composer, sacred music specialist and founder of Athalia Music.
- Bernard Schwager: Brass musician, composer, arranger, and professor of trombone at Yale University.
- Eva Schwager: Guinness World Record holding synchronized swimmer.
- Helge Schwager: Physicist and professor at the ETH Zurich.
- Todd Schwager: Actor, producer, and co-founder of the film production company Stay Gold Media.
- Ursula Schwager: Award-winning Swiss Television actress and producer.