Surname Schellhas - Meaning and Origin
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Schellhas: What does the surname Schellhas mean?
The last name Schellhas is of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin. Its meaning is "shell" or "seashell". It likely originated as a nickname for a person either living near a body of water or pursued work related to the fishing or pearl industries. Even today, it is still commonly found in towns along the North and Baltic Sea shores of Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
In German the name Schellhas is derived from the old German word “Schellen”, meaning “to sound”. The initial part of the surname Schellhas, “schel” is an old German word for “shell”. Thus, the combined meaning of the surname Schellhas is “shell that sounds”. A possible interpretation of the surname is that a person bearing this name either liked to have a collection of seashells, as a hobby or a profession, or was involved in the fishing or pearl industry in some fashion.
Theis surname is typically found in areas of northern Germany near the North Sea such as the cities of Kiel, Hamburg and Westerland. It was also quite common among members of the Jewish community in Germany.
Schellhas is a very unique surname and has been adopted by many countries through immigration and migration around the world. Today there are people bearing this name in France, Canada, the United States, Brazil, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Order DNA origin analysisSchellhas: Where does the name Schellhas come from?
The last name Schellhas is a German surname that is still commonly found in several countries today. It originated from a region that is now part of the modern state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It is also seen in areas that were historically part of the Bavarian region and Prussia.
In modern times, Schellhas is most commonly found in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United States, and Canada. It is also found in parts of France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands.
In the US, those with the last name Schellhas can mostly be traced to ancestors who migrated from Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century. It is estimated that there are currently over 8,000 individuals in the United States with the last name Schellhas, with a majority of them concentrated in states like California, Texas, Florida, and Michigan.
In Canada, Schellhas is also common, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Though its exact origins in the country are unclear, it is assumed that the name’s spread is largely due to the large number of German immigrants who settled in these provinces during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Overall, the Schellhas surname is still commonly found throughout countries like Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United States, and Canada. Due to its European origins, it is likely that the Schellhas name will continue to remain common in areas with Teutonic heritage for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Schellhas
Schellhas is a German surname, that is spelled in many variant forms. Most common of these are Schellhaas, Shellhaus, and Schellhaus. All of these are derived from an old German name combination, Shellhaz or Shellhau.
The first element of the name comes from the German word ‘Schell’, meaning ‘bell’. This likely comes from the idea of sounding the bell to call people to gather or summon them. The second element of the name ‘haz’ or ‘haus’ is likely derived from the German word ‘haus’, meaning ‘house’. This part of the name reflects the original family’s occupation of owning a bell, hence the name ‘house of the bell’.
Other spellings and variants include the following: Shellhausen, Schellhaz, Schellhase, Schellhauz, Schellhaus, Schellhouse, Shellhause, Sheellhause, Schellhausen, Shellaz and Shellhaz. Additionally, there are other spellings that use the German language and are phonetically similar to the original spelling: Schellhaus, Schallhaus, Schallhas, Schillhaus, Schillhase, Schillhaz, Schillhauz, Schallhause, Schillhause, and Schallhausen.
Schellhas is also known by the surnames Shellhoge, Shellhazer, Shellhazen, Shillhogen, Shellhouser, Shellhutz, Shellhoge, and Shelhouse. These are variations of the surname that developed in different parts of Germany.
Famous people with the name Schellhas
- Hugo Schellhas (1859–1914), German professor of Classical Archaeology
- Philipp Schellhas (1877–1942), German Professor of Classical Archaeology and Semitic Studies
- Paul Schellhas (1864–1925), German theologian and Christian apologist
- Carl Schellhas (1835–1893), German Catholic bishop of Chemnitz
- Hermann Joseph Schellhas (1872–1941), German officer in World War I
- Peter Schellhas (1974- ), German television presenter and artist
- Hummelinck Schellhas (died after 1666), Dutch historian
- Maria Schell (1926–2005), Austrian-born Swiss actress
- Maximilian Schell (1930–2014), Austrian-born Swiss actor
- Myron E. Schellhas (1922–2008), American Professor of Anthropology and Zoology