Surname Krätschmer - Meaning and Origin
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Krätschmer: What does the surname Krätschmer mean?
The last name Krätschmer is of German origin and derives from the Middle High German term "kra(t)sinc," which means "merchant." Krätschmers were most likely merchants who moved between cities and regions in early medieval Germany to exchange goods and services.
Krätschmers generally come from Germany or Austria, and the surname is primarily found in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The family is believed to be one of the oldest and most widespread among German surnames.
Since medieval Germany was home to a variety of trade and craft guilds, merchants like the Krätschmers were likely members of one or more of them. Some, however, are also believed to have served as court advisers to nobility, as a way of expanding their influence and dealings.
The Krätschmer family has a long and diverse history, with many members having served in the military, politics, and even in various international businesses. Today, the name is still used in Germany, and many members of the family live throughout Europe. Although this is a notable German surname, it is also becoming increasingly common abroad.
Order DNA origin analysisKrätschmer: Where does the name Krätschmer come from?
The last name Krätschmer is typically found in many parts of Central and Southern Germany, as well as parts of Eastern Europe such as Poland and the Czech Republic. According to a recent study, this surname has been mainly concentrated in Saxony, a region in the east of Germany, as well as the nearby region of Thuringia.
Despite its historical strongholds, the last name Krätschmer is also spread across the rest of Germany, with its presence increasing particularly in the North, and to a lesser extent in the South. In terms of larger cities, particularly Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne can boast a number of Krätschmer-named residents.
In terms of international expansion, the Krätschmer family is also firmly established in other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. The ancestors of those bearing the name today can be traced back to several waves of German immigrants that left Europe and arrived in the New World during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Since then, the Krätschmer family has become an increasingly significant presence in many parts of the Americas, and indeed much further afield. This includes several locations where the family name has grown to become the most common in the area, such as Gilead, Wisconsin, USA.
Variations of the surname Krätschmer
Krätschmer is a German surname that can have a variety of spellings and variants, including Kraetschmer, Kraetsch, Kraetschmaer, Kretschmer, Kretschmaer, Krschmer, and Krschmaer. The variant spellings are mainly due to the fact that German spelling has changed a lot over the years.
The surname Krätschmer is a patronymic name which means "son of Krechmar", a personal name derived from the Germanic elements "krecht or kreeg" meaning "war" and "mar" meaning "fame". The name is thought to have originated around the mid 12th century when Germans were beginning to adopt surnames.
Due to its German origin, the Krätschmer surname is found mainly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other parts of central and northern Europe. However, it is also commonly found in countries with large German-speaking populations such as the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina.
Variations of the Krätschmer surname can also be found in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, France, Poland and the Netherlands. In some countries, the surname has been changed into local spelling variations, like Kretschmar in Poland and Kreszmer in France.
The Krätschmer surname is also quite common in some parts of the Czech Republic, where it is known as Kracmar. In the English-speaking world, the surname has been anglicised as Krechmer, Kretschamer, Kretzschmar, Cratschmer and Cratschmaer.
Famous people with the name Krätschmer
- Detlef Krätschmer: former professional swimmer and world champion
- Werner Krätschmer: German politician and member of the FDP
- Arne Krätschmer: German footballer
- Matthias Krätschmer: German Olympic fencer and eight-time national champion
- Reinhard Krätschmer: founder and CEO of the digital media distribution company NTS
- Aram Krätschmer: German physicist and professor at the University of Frankfurt
- Christian Krätschmer: German sprinter
- Heiko Krätschmer: German footballer
- Adelheid Krätschmer: German Olympic swimmer
- Alexander Krätschmer: German artist and sculptor
- Thomas Krätschmer: German sailor and Olympic medalist
- Hans Krätschmer: German Olympic cyclist
- Gunther Krätschmer: German physicist and professor at the Technical University of Dresden
- Matthias Graf von Schwerin-Krätschmer: German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union
- Fred J. Krätschmer: American pro-golfer