Surname Eckschmidt - Meaning and Origin

Eckschmidt: What does the surname Eckschmidt mean?

Eckschmidt is a German surname derived from the German word "eck" meaning corner or edge and "schmidt" meaning smith. It's likely that the original bearer of the name was a blacksmith or metalsmith who lived in an area called Eck. Alternatively, it may have been a nickname for someone who was thought to have an "eckiges" or angular personality.

Eckschmidt may also have originated as a locational name, denoting someone from a place named Eck. This place name could refer to an area known for its curves and edges, such as a wooded area with jagged tree trunks. Alternatively, it could refer to the corner of a larger town or city.

The name Eckschmidt is relatively rare. Currently, there are fewer than 500 people with the name in the world, most of whom live in Germany and Austria. In some cases, the name has been anglicized to Eckardt, Exchmidt, or Exchmied.

Eckschmidts are likely to have strong family ties, as well as a strong sense of personal identity and loyalty for their community. As a result of their history, they might also have a strong affinity for craftsmanship and metalworking.

Eckschmidt: Where does the name Eckschmidt come from?

The surname Eckschmidt is common today in many counties in Germany, as well as in some states in the United States and Canada. In Germany, it is often found in large cities such as Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, and Munich, where there are more people of German ancestry. In the U.S., Eckschmidt is prevalent in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, and Illinois, states which historically attracted many German immigrants. Additionally, it is commonly found in areas with large German-speaking populations in Texas, Wisconsin, and the midwest. It also appears in a number of provinces in Canada, especially in cities with large German settlements like Kitchener and Stratford in Ontario, and St. Boniface and Winnipeg in Manitoba. Due to the large number of people of German origin in the United States and Canada, the surname Eckschmidt is still quite common in many places today.

Variations of the surname Eckschmidt

The surname Eckschmidt has at least two notable variants within the German language itself. The alternate spelling of this name would be Eckeschmidt. Other related surnames that have Germanic roots include Eckschmid, Eckschmitt, Ecksmidt, Ecksamitt, Eckschmid, and Eckschmitt.

Outside of the German language, there are multiple spellings that identify with the surname. This includes Eckschmid, Eccsmith, Ecxschmidt, Exschmidt, and Eckxschmidt. While each of these listed spellings are entirely different, they all have origins that can be traced back to the surname Eckschmidt.

In some cases, the Eckschmidt surname may have even been changed due to the political and religious past of Germany. For example, some individuals with the Eckschmidt surname were required to change it to Eckenschmidt during World War II because of the anti-Semitic laws put in place by the Nazi government.

In addition, variations of the name may appear in other regional dialects. In the southwest German region of the Pfalz, the Eckschmidt surname can also be found spelled as Ecksbitte or Ecksbede. Moreover, the name may have been altered due to migration and immigration such as Eckdsmidt, Ecksdmikt, and Eckschmydt, which are some of the spellings found in America.

No matter the spelling, surname meanings remain largely the same with Eckschmidt being derived from a combination of two separate words. The "Eck" is the German word for corner, while "Schmidt" is a derivative of the word “smith”, or someone in the metalworking profession, so the literal translation translates roughly to Corner Smith or Corner Maker.

Famous people with the name Eckschmidt

• Carsten Eckschmidt: German footballer who has played for clubs such as FC Schalke 04, 1. FC Nuremberg and VfL Wolfsburg.
• Tobias Eckschmidt: German entrepreneur and founder of the media start-up TeleDabei.
• Henning Eckschmidt: German human rights lawyer who served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression from 2000-2008.
• Olaf Eckschmidt: German tennis player who was a regular participant in Grand Slam tournaments in the 1990s.
• Daniel Eckschmidt: German journalist who has worked at Süddeutsche Zeitung, and as a correspondent for the ORF Austrian radio network.
• Sebastian Eckschmidt: German film director and screenwriter who has won several awards for his critically acclaimed films.
• Frank Eckschmidt: German architect and past president of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, a renowned German arts school.
• Johann Eckschmidt: German naturalist and author during the 19th century.
• Jakob Eckschmidt: German physicist and Nobel Prize winner in 1923.

Other surnames

Eckschmit