Surname Schacht - Meaning and Origin
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iGENEA DNA Test: Unravelling Unexpected Roots & Redefining The Schacht Lineage
After undergoing an iGENEA DNA test to trace back my Schacht lineage, a profound truth surpassed the previously known narrative of my ancestors. The revelations about my Danish and Jewish heritage redefined my understanding of my roots and reshaped my self-identity.
M. Schacht
read moreSchacht: What does the surname Schacht mean?
The last name Schacht is a German surname derived from the word “Schacht,” which means “mine shaft” or “pit.” It is most commonly found in Northern and Central Germany and is a derived from either a topographic feature near where a person once lived, or from an occupational name given to someone who worked in a mine.
Over the centuries, Schacht has become an umbrella term for many other less common surnames, including Schachta, Schachtman, Schachtner, Schachtel, and Schachter. However, the original surname likely referred to someone who was a miner or worked in the coal mining industry.
The original Schacht family likely originated in the Ruhr Valley in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia, a region extremely abundant in natural resources like coal, iron, and copper. The name reflects a part of the family’s heritage and working background, as mining and related occupations were the main source of income in those days.
Today, the Schacht name can be seen in many different locations around the world. It is a common name found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and other countries. There is even a small township called Schacht, located in the district of Gifhorn, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisSchacht: Where does the name Schacht come from?
The last name Schacht is commonly found in Germany, Scandinavia, and parts of Central and Eastern Europe. In Germany, it is the 78th most common surname overall, with about 180,000 people using it in 2018. In some other regions, the prevalence of the name varies significantly. In Austria, for example, it was the 110th most common last name in 2018, while in Sweden it was the 568th.
The name Schacht is thought to derive from the old German for "hole", implying the family used to live near or work around a potential water well or coal mine. More broadly, it has been suggested that it may be related to the medieval title of "schacht" (a man in charge of protecting a monastery's forests), while others believe it was originally a habitational name meaning someone who "lived at the edge".
Today, there are Schacht families across Europe, with many clusters in Germany, particularly in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. In Scandinavia, the surname is mainly found in Norway and Sweden, where records indicate a distinguished family of Schacht from the 18th century who were prominent in Stockholm and other parts of the country. The Schacht name is also quite common among Americans of German descent, especially in Pennsylvania, as thousands of German immigrants moved to the US in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Schacht
The surname Schacht is an occupational surname meaning 'mine shaft' in German and South Dutch. It can be found in both German and Dutch speaking countries.
Variants of Schacht include Schachte, Schachtel, Schachtner, Schachteldecker, and Schachtner. Some of these variants are also found in American, Canadian, and Australian records.
In some instances, the surname Schacht has been transliterated into English in the form of Shock, Shook, Shack, and Schock. Schacht is occasionally found Anglicized to Shaughnessy and Shaughnessey.
Similar spellings include Shedd, Shedde, Shead, and Shed. There are also alternative spelling variants such as Schaht, Schact, Schachtte, Schat and Schachtte.
Other surnames of similar origin are Schneck, Schneck, Schink, Schinkel, Schinken, Schnicker, Schindler, Schmal, Schmaus, Schwab, and Schwann. All of these are derived from the Germanic root word “schacht” meaning mine shaft.
The surname Schacht is currently the 8,633rd most common surname in Europe. It is frequently found in areas such as Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. In some areas of America, the surname Schacht is found to be of German origin.
Researching Schacht and its variants can be challenging due to the wide variety of spellings and transliterations. To locate records more easily, it helps to know which surnames were used in the local area and which of these have been retained over time.
Famous people with the name Schacht
- Hjalmar Schacht: German economist, politician and banker, president of the Reichsbank and Minister of Economics during the Nazi regime who later faced trial at the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal.
- Maurice Schacht: son of Hjalmar Schacht, Nazi party member who worked in the German military intelligence.
- Mathilde Schacht: German actress most famous for her role as Fraulein Schneider in the play “Cabaret”.
- William Schacht: German-born American historian who wrote extensively on the history of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Thomas Schacht: German actor known for his performance as Professor in the film “The Book Thief”.
- Katarina Schacht: Olympic German swimmer, competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics and won Gold in the 4X100m freestyle relay.
- Marie-Luise Schacht: German author best known for her book “Sorrow without Solace”.
- Joachim Schacht: German film score composer who worked on the 2008 film “The Reader” starring Kate Winslet.
- Erna Schacht: German-born American writer and professor whose novel “Tales of Enchantment and Wonder” was a National Book Award finalist.
- Manfred Schacht: German former Paralympian athlete who competed in javelin throwing in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Paralympics.