Surname Schönleben - Meaning and Origin

Schönleben: What does the surname Schönleben mean?

The surname Schönleben is a German surname of unknown origin. It could be derived from the Middle High German word "schone", meaning "lovely" or "beautiful". Alternately, it could come from the given name Schön, which translates to "handsome".

The surname Schönleben can be found throughout Germany, but is especially common in the states of Bavaria and Thuringia. It is also known in Switzerland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands.

The Schönleben family is known to have served as knights in Bavarian courts, as well as held political offices in the states of Thuringia, Prussia, Saxony, and Germany. Through the years, the Schönlebens have served in the military, become farmers, helped to build businesses, and made significant contributions to society.

The Schönleben family is strong in their faith and have a strong sense of loyalty, which sets them apart from the rest of society. While their place in the world has always been important, their legacy of steadfastness in times of difficulty continues to be an example for others to follow.

Schönleben: Where does the name Schönleben come from?

The last name Schönleben can be found today mainly concentrated in the countries of Germany, Austria and the United States. In Germany, the Schönleben family name originated in the early 19th century and is predominantly found in the southern German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. According to official records, Schönleben ranks as the 106th most common surname in Germany.

In Austria, the Schönleben last name appears to have German roots and is considered to be one of the top 500 most common last names in the country. The majority of Austrian Schönlebens currently live in Styria, with significant populations noted in Lower Austria and Vienna.

The Schönleben family is also present in the United States, where it is most commonly found in the states of New York, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. The first Schönleben known to come to the United States made the trip in 1850, followed shortly after by others between 1890 and 1900.

Overall, the Schönleben last name is distributed mainly in Germanic-speaking countries but can be found scattered in areas around the world, including the United States of America.

Variations of the surname Schönleben

The Schönleben surname is a German surname originating from the state of Thuringia. It derived from the Middle High German word schœne, meaning "lovely" or "loveable". This surname has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, which include:

Schonleben:

Schonleben is the most common spelling variation of this surname. It is derived from the same Middle High German form as the original surname, Schönleben, and can be found in records from the area of Thuringia.

Schœnleben:

Schœnleben is another spelling variation, which is more faithful to the original Middle High German form of the word from which the surname was derived. It is most similar to the original spelling of the surname.

Schonleb:

Schonleb is another variant, and one which has become the most common spelling variant in the US. It is a shortened form of the original surname.

Schoenleb:

Schoenleb is another spelling variation of the surname, which may have arisen from an incorrect transcription of the original name in records. It appears in records from Thuringia.

Schoenleben:

Schoenleben is another spelling variation which is derived from the original Middle High German form of the word from which the surname was derived. It is the most faithful spelling to the original form, and can be found in records from the area of Thuringia.

Schonlebener:

Schonlebener is a variant of the original surname, and one which is derived from the older Middle High German form of the surname. It is found throughout the area of Thuringia.

The other surnames of the same origin as Schönleben include: Schonline, Schonlebef, Schonlein, Schonlebl, Schonli, Schonlleb, Schonlub, Schonning, Schonlback, Schonlebourne, and Schonlebern.

Famous people with the name Schönleben

• Freimut Schönleben (German doctor, founder of the European Society for Intercultural Education)
• Wilhelm Schönleben (German general staff officer)
• Rudolf Schönleben (german radiologist and professor 79th President of the German Radiological Society)
• Paul Schönleben (German businessman and electrical engineer)
• Anna Lena Schönleben (German singer, songwriter and actress)
• Hanno Schönleben (German-Japanese racing driver and engineer)
• Chantal Schönleben (German athlete, Olympian)
• Thorsten Schönleben (German skater, multiple world and European championships medalist)
• Holger Schönleben (German footballer and manager)
• Panajot Schönleben (German chess grandmaster)
• Itanan Schönleben (German actor)
• Bernt Schönleben (German multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer)
• Peter Schönleben (German singer and multi-instrumentalist)
• Eugen Schönleben (German composer and conductor)
• Klaus Schönleben (German businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist)

Other surnames

SchönlebSchönlebeSchönleber