Surname Schönmehl - Meaning and Origin
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Schönmehl: What does the surname Schönmehl mean?
The surname Schönmehl is of German origin, with literal meanings of "beautiful meal" or "beautiful share". It is believed to have been a name given to people who were in some way related to the meal making process or the sharing of food.
The Schönmehl family trace their roots back to Bavaria and are believed to have migrated to the United States in the mid-1800s. They settled mainly in the Midwest and the West Coast of the United States.
The name Schönmehl itself is derived from two old German words, ‘schön’ meaning ‘beautiful’ and ‘mehl’ meaning ‘meal’. At the time of its origin, the name referred to someone who served or produced excellent meals for a gathering or a feast.
The spelling of the word goes beyond the root of the name, with several variations available such as Schoenmehl, Shoenmehl, Sohnmehl, and Shonmehl. All of these versions trace their roots back to the original spelling of ‘Schönmehl’.
The Schönmehl family has a long history of producing excellent meals and for sharing them with others. There is a cookbook in production for the Schönmehl family that outlines family recipes, compiled over many generations. This cookbook will be available soon and will be a great way to keep alive the memory of one the family’s oldest, most beloved surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisSchönmehl: Where does the name Schönmehl come from?
The last name Schönmehl is primarily found in Germany today. It is a German surname meaning "beautiful meal," and was likely given as a nickname to a person who prepared or shared lavish meals.
The name is prominent in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in the country, though it can be found in other cities and rural areas throughout Germany. However, there are now sparse numbers of Schönmehl in parts of Europe, including Austria and Switzerland, as well as former German territories such as Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
In the United States, the last name Schönmehl is also relatively common, due to immigrants from Germany in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The highest percentages are found in the northeastern states, particularly Pennsylvania, while the name is spread out across the Midwest and the West Coast of the country.
As a consequence of the German diaspora, Schönmehl can also be found in Australia, some parts of South America, and some countries in Africa. However, the population is scattered and does not exceed more than a few hundred people in any single country outside of Germany.
Given its German origin, Schönmehl is pronounced "shawn-myl" and is spelled with an umlaut over the "o," a symbol which indicates that the vowel is to be pronounced as two distinct sounds.
Variations of the surname Schönmehl
The surname Schönmehl is of German origin, deriving from the aristocratic Schönteich family. A variety of spellings and variants have developed over time, as family members moved to different countries and their name was Anglicized or localised.
A direct variant of the spelling Schönmehl is Schonmehl. This variant is most commonly seen in Northern Germany and parts of Austria.
The surname can also be spelled Schonmahl, Schönmahl, Schonmahle, and Schonmehler or Schoenmahler, indicating that the root of the surname is either Schoen or Schon.
Other surnames of similar origin include Schoenmehl, Schoenhehl, Schönehehl, Schonemeier, Schonemehr, Schonemöhle, Schonemöller, Schonemann, Shonemehr, Schonmuehl, and Schonemewhus.
A number of surnames derived from the Schönteich family have also been adopted throughout Europe, including the surnames Schöntag, Schönteich, Schonfeld, Schonpflug, and Schonberg. As the use of middle names in Germany, Austria and Switzerland also increased over time, it is likely that Schönmehl has been adopted as an additional name for multiple generations.
Overall, the Schönmehl surname is quite common throughout Europe, thanks to its varied spellings and surnames of similar origin.
Famous people with the name Schönmehl
- Heidemarie Schönmehl: German television presenter and former member of the German Parliament.
- Michael Schönmehl: Former German professional football player and current Sporting Director of the Union Berlin football club.
- Ernst Schönmehl: Swiss painter and graphic artist.
- Wolfgang Schönmehl: German former professional football player and current manager.
- Susanne Schönmehl: German-American brand manager and consultant.
- Koen Schönmehl: German business executive and member of the board of directors of Kabel Deutschland.
- Jochen Schönmehl: Former Chairman and CEO of Verwaltungs- und Wirtschafts-Akademie Berlin.
- Friedrich Schönmehl: German bryologist and pteridologist since 1976.
- Dirk Schönmehl: German composer, producer and writer.
- Ralf Schönmehl: German physicist and professor for Imaging Technology and Electrical Engineering.