Surname Schachtmann - Meaning and Origin

Schachtmann: What does the surname Schachtmann mean?

The last name Schachtmann is derived from the Middle High German term for 'lock keeper' or 'guard'. It likely came from an occupation of the same name, which involved protecting various castles, palaces, and homes from intruders. In modern contexts, this surname is thought to indicate a job of protecting and managing some type of water or riverway.

The Schachtmann family is quite widespread, with members having been found in countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. It is a very old surname, with some records of its existence going as far back as the 15th century. Historically, the Schachtmann family was associated with the noble class, suggesting that they had some sort of distinguished status or great wealth.

Having the last name Schachtmann could likely indicate a family connection to administrative, guard, or ruling role of some kind. This might even stretch back to mediaeval times, when members of this family held noble titles and had significant influence. It could also designate a connection to a certain geographical area, as members of this namesake have typically been located in similar locations for centuries. Ultimately, the last name Schachtmann is evidence of a multi-generational family history that likely holds these same traits of leadership and power.

Schachtmann: Where does the name Schachtmann come from?

The last name Schachtmann is most commonly found in the country of Germany. Many of the greatest density of Schachtmann’s are found in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, and Lower Saxony. Most of those bearing the Schachtmann name in Germany can trace their ancestry back to Prussia, or within the last two hundred years, from other parts of eastern Europe.

In the United States, the Schachtmann surname is seen more sporadically with the greatest concentration in small pockets of the American Midwest and South. While there are still many Schachtmanns living in the South, the greatest population of this name now is in the Midwest, especially in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska.

Because of immigration, Schachtmann’s are also commonly found in several English speaking countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In South America, it is found among descendants of German diasporic and immigrant populations living in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

No matter the country or generation, Schachtmanns are present in many areas of the world. Within the past few decades, however, the Schachtmann name has become increasingly more spread out as members of the family have recognized the importance of connections across cultures.

Variations of the surname Schachtmann

The surname Schachtmann is an occupational surname and originated in Germany. The variants of the name consist of Spellings, including Schatman, Schachman, Schachmann, Schwartzman, Schwatman, and Shacksman. In German, the spelling of the surname could be Schachtmann, Schachtman, Schachtmen, Schachtmun, Schachtmunn, Schactman, and Schachtmanner.

Surnames of the same origin, such as Schnack and Schnitz, are also related to the surname Schachtmann, as they are derived from the Middle High German word “schanke,” meaning a “place where drinks are served.” This origins of the name meant that the initial Schachtmann families worked in inns and taverns.

A few of the variant surnames related to the origin of Schachtmann include: Shachter, Schacht, Schnack, Schnitzer, Shakman, Schakter, Shechtsman, Shacht, Shactman, and Shademan, which all stem from the German word “schacht,” meaning “mine.” For example, in medieval Germany, people working in mines often adopted the name Schachtmann as a descriptor of their occupation.

Additionally, variants including Schactiv, Scachtmeister, Shachterolf, Shachtel, and Shakmanoff, as well as foreign adaptations like Schachtner (Austrian) and Szachtema(Polish), are all likely related to the surname Schachtmann.

Famous people with the name Schachtmann

• Schlomo Schachtmann: Schlomo was a German-Jewish jurist and literary scholar, who studied a wide range of topics from theology to philosophy. He was a professor of Jewish studies at the University of Basel and wrote over twenty books on topics such as philosophy, history, literature and philosophy of religion.
• Christian Schachtmann: Christian was a German politician, who was one of the founding members of the Alliance for Germany and was chairman of the Zentel party from 1943 to 1945. He was known for his opposition to Nazi policies and was a key figure in German resistance movements.
• Udo Schachtmann: Udo was a German voice actor who dubs many famous animated films, especially Disney ones, in German. He is best known for voicing characters in movies like Finding Nemo (Marlin) and The Lion King (Scar).
• Robert Schachtmann: Robert was a German architect, who has been awarded with the prestigious ‘Veche Architecture Prize’ for his design of the Nuremberg Stadium, which was completed in 2000.
• Kurt Schachtmann: Kurt was a German industrialist, who founded the ‘Kurt Schachtmann GmbH & Co. KG’ in 18th August 1952. It is an industrial engineering company which specialises in electrical engineering, automation and machinery production.
• Christiane Schachtmann: Christiane is a German painter who began her studies at the Art Academy in Berlin in 1997. Her works are mainly abstract and involve themes such as human rights, the environment and technology.
• Gunther Schachtmann: Gunther was a German physicist who developed the refined Born-Oppenheimer approximation in 1935, which was a method of estimating the energy of atoms and molecules. He was a professor at the University of Marburg.
• Holger Schachtmann: Holger is a German photographer and filmmaker that explores topics such as exploration, anthropology, nature, and documentary perspectives. His works have been published in magazines and his photographs have been exhibited in Europe and the United States.

Other surnames

SchachtmaierSchachtmeierSchachtmeyer