Surname Scheid - Meaning and Origin

Tracing the Scheid Surname: A DNA analysis led familial journey with IGENEA

I recently took a journey through the helical highways of my DNA with iGENEA to unravel the history and origin of my surname, Scheid. This venture into my familial roots was an experience, offering a unique window into the migration patterns, possible Viking lineage, and cultural influences tied to my surname.

L. Scheid

Scheid: What does the surname Scheid mean?

The last name Scheid is a German surname derived from the words "schied," meaning "to share" and "schet," meaning "a half." This indicates that the name was likely originally a toponymic surname that indicated a family's habitation near a shared border between two communities.

It is also possible that at some point, Scheid was also used as a habitational name for families living near a lake or marsh. In this instance, the name is derived from the word "schiida," which can be translated as "sheltered or protected place." This meaning is likely due to the fact that bodies of water often provided necessary shelter and resources to early settlers.

In more recent times, the Scheid surname has become popularized in several parts of Europe, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The estimated distribution of the name is concentrated in the south of Germany and in the east of Austria. The name is extremely rare in other areas of the world.

Today, the Scheid surname is carried by a multitude of families and holds historic resonance to their original habitation and ancestral roots. Whether someone is looking to explore their past or find out more about their family's background, the meaningfulness of the Scheid last name can offer important context.

Scheid: Where does the name Scheid come from?

The last name Scheid is most commonly found in German- and French-speaking regions, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and parts of France. In fact, its origins are thought to come from the German word “scheid,” which translates to “divide,” referring to a person who lived near a border or geographic division of some kind.

Scheid is also sometimes found in other parts of Europe, such as Poland, Hungary, Norway, and the Netherlands. It’s also fairly common within the United States, particularly in California, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania, likely because of German and French immigrants who brought the name with them during the 19th century.

In modern times, the last name Scheid is thought to be listed as one of the top ten thousand last names in Germany and Austria. As a result, it’s likely that many people living around the world who carry this last name have distant relatives in these countries.

Variations of the surname Scheid

Scheid is a German surname of different origin, most likely of Old German, Middle Dutch, and Proto-Germanic origin. Its numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Scheide, Scheit, Schied, Schitt, Scheyt, Scheyd, Scheidt, Schit, Schyd, and numerous other minor variations.

The surname is derived from the Old German and Middle Dutch word “schieden”, meaning “part, share, or divide”. It was given to an individual who acted as an arbiter in a dispute, or to mark a boundary line between two properties, and later became a surname. In the German language, Scheid is a cognate of the English word “divide”, and similarly, in the Dutch language, it is cognate to the word “scheiden”, also meaning “divide”.

Scheid is also a place name, most notably the German town of Scheid am Rhein, located in the state of Hesse, and an Old German given name, cognate to the English name Schette. As a result of this, it is sometimes found as “von Scheid”, being the surname of a family from the town, and “Scheid Schette”, being a combination of the place name and the given name.

Variations of the name have spread out throughout Europe. In the Netherlands, the spelling alternates between “scheid/scheit” and “schied/schit”, while in stripped down forms such as “Schettle”, “Scheidle”, and “Scheidl” it is found in Austria, Hungary, and Germany. In North America, it has been anglicized to “Scheid” or “Shied”.

Famous people with the name Scheid

• Martin Scheid: A German alpine skier from Bad Wiesse, Germany currently competing in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.
• Jürgen Scheid: A German businessman and investor from Bad Wiessee. He is the founder of the private investment company Helios Invest Partners, as well as the founder and CEO of NEOcapital, and the founder of the advisory firm JS Ventures.
• Uli Scheid: A former German football player. He played for a number of teams in the German Bundesliga during his career, and captained BV Borussia 09 Dortmund.
• Joanna Scheid: A professional singer, philanthropist, and director who has had performances in venues including Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera.
• Claudia Scheid: Former professional tennis player from West Germany. She competed on the WTA circuit and had a career-high ranking of 56th in the world.
• Annika Scheid: An Austrian handball player who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Stefan Scheid: A German figure skater who competed in the World Figure Skating Championships in 2011 and 2012 and the European Championships in 2015.
• Baerbel Scheid: German activist and politician who was president of the German Trade Union Confederation from 2002-2007.
• Christian Scheid: A German insurance executive. He is the current CEO of the Zurich Group and chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Life Holding AG.
• Francois Scheid: A Swiss racing cyclist who competed in the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympic games.

Other surnames

ScheibeScheibenstockScheibleScheideScheideckScheideckerScheideggScheideggerScheidelScheidelerScheidelmannScheidemandelScheidemannScheidemantelScheiderScheidererScheidgenScheidgesScheidhamerScheidhammerScheidhauerScheidingScheidlScheidleScheidleinScheidlerScheidlinScheidmannScheidmantelScheidmeir