Surname Schnerr - Meaning and Origin
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Schnerr: What does the surname Schnerr mean?
The German surname Schnerr is an ornamental surname, meaning it was either originally a nickname for a person or was a name used to differentiate a family from another family with a similar name. Historically, surnames were an important way for families to differentiate amongst themselves, and ornamental surnames were a popular way to do this.
The word Schnerr is derived from Middle German schuonr, which means “graceful” or “charming”. The spelling with one “n” instead of two “nn” is more commonly found in modern records. Scholars hypothesize that this may be indicative of an older form spelled with two “nn” that softened over time.
The Schnerr family probably had multiple historical iterations throughout the centuries. The earliest recorded occurrences of the name are found in the 15th century records of what was then Silesia – a region of Central Europe that changed hands many times throughout history. By the 16th century, the name had spread throughout German-speaking Europe.
The name has undergone subtle spelling changes over the ages, and several variants are found throughout the world today, including Sknerr, Schnar, Schnorr, Schneider, and Schnarow. Some families bearing variants of the name can be traced back to the 1700s in the United States, where the spelling became increasingly varied due to phonetic simplification as German immigrants settled in new countries.
Overall, the Schnerr surname is a testament to the changing times throughout history and the importance of personal and family identity to those of the past.
Order DNA origin analysisSchnerr: Where does the name Schnerr come from?
The last name Schnerr is most commonly found in German-speaking regions. Primarily, the surname is found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. Large numbers of people with the name Schnerr can also be found in the Netherlands, and there is a growing presence of the Schnerr surname in North America, particularly in the northeastern United States, due to German immigration from the late nineteenth century onwards.
In Germany, the surname Schnerr is quite common in the northern and western regions, especially in the cities and towns of the Lower Rhine region. It is also found to a lesser extent in cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hamburg.
In Austria, the name Schnerr is most common in the region of Vorarlberg near the borders of Switzerland and Germany. In Switzerland, the Schnerr surname appears most frequently in the canton of Zurich, in the western region of the German-speaking part of the country.
In Hungary, the surname Schnerr is mainly found near the Austrian border in the western part of the country and in the capital city of Budapest.
In Scandinavia, the last name Schnerr is mainly found in Denmark. It is also found to a lesser extent in Norway and Sweden, primarily due to German migration.
In the Netherlands, the Schnerr surname is mainly concentrated in North Holland and Gelderland, mainly due to the presence of a large German-speaking expatriate population.
The surname Schnerr is also prevalent in the United States, where it is mainly found in Pennsylvania and in other parts of the northeastern region. Schnerr's can also be found in states such as California, Oregon, and Texas.
Variations of the surname Schnerr
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as the surname Schnerr are Schnarr, Schener, Schenner, Schneer, Schner, Schenr, Sheren, and Scheren.
Schnerr is a surname of German origin. It comes from the word “schnurr” which loosely translates to “snarl”, “a snarling or grumbling sound”, or “an old-fashioned term for a grumbling complaint”. The spelling of Schnerr is indicative of a Low German dialect.
Variant spellings are common in German surnames, but Schnerr has several variants and alternate spellings that include Schnarr, Schener, Schenner, Schneer, Schner, Schenr, Sheren, and Scheren. Schnarr is the most commonly-used variant.
The surname likely originates from those who were associated with or performed the occupation of a constraintsmaker or builder of ropeworks. This could possibly explain why Schnerr originates from the Low German word schnurr.
Variants of the surname Schnerr can still be found in many German-speaking countries and some areas in Pennsylvania and Michigan in the United States.
Each variant of the Schnerr surname may have differences in meaning, but lexical records indicate that all have a common root and origin from the Low German word, schnurr.
Famous people with the name Schnerr
- Nathaniel Schnerr: an American actor who has appeared on television shows such as How To Get Away with Murder, Scandal and The Fosters.
- Robert Schnerr: a famous German artist and sculptor best known for his family group sculptures.
- Alfred Schnerr: a German-born architect best known for his designs of public buildings such as the former Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the Central Library in Darmstadt.
- Volker Schnerr: a retired German football player who spent most of his career playing in the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga.
- Kevin Schnerr: an American journalist who was among the first to report on the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam.
- Ben Schnerr: a professional surfer from the United States who has competed in several world surfing competitions.
- Rudy Schnerr: a former ice hockey player who played in the now defunct NHL for the St. Louis Blues.
- Andreas Schnerr: a German-born psychologist and psychotherapist who solutions-focused models of psychotherapy.
- Werner Schnerr: a German composer and musician who is best known for his popular electronic and dance music.
- Will Schnerr: an Australian wildlife biologist best known for his work in the conservation of koala and platypus populations.