Surname Thorschmidt - Meaning and Origin
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Thorschmidt: What does the surname Thorschmidt mean?
The surname Thorschmidt is of German or Danish origin. It believed to be derived from the old Germanic personal name Thor, a form of the god Thor. The name is composed of two elements: Thor—name of the Germanic god of thunder; and Schmidt—meaning "smith" or "metal worker".
The first historical record of the name is seen in the Bremen area of Germany in the year 1279, when one Henricus Thorschmidt recorded as living there. In 1297, an almsman in Lübeck is noted as 'Heinrich Thorschmidt'. Over the centuries, many members of this family line have had notable military or political involvement or have contributed to the sciences.
This family name has been carried to other parts of Europe by Thorschmidt migrants seeking adventure, wealth, or religious freedom. In the early 19th century, some of them settled in the United States. The earliest recorded is of a Thorschmidt who arrived in America in 1841 and settled in Ohio. In the same year, a Thorschmidt immigrated to Prussia (now Belarus).
The name Thorschmidt is strongly associated with metallurgy or smithing skills and it continues to be popular family name among German-speaking countries, Denmark and the United States. There are still many descendants bearing the original name, often living in the same areas where their ancestors lived centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisThorschmidt: Where does the name Thorschmidt come from?
The last name Thorschmidt is most commonly seen in Germany and other German-speaking countries in Europe today. In Germany, the name Thorschmidt has a long and noble heritage, with records showing the earliest Thorschmidts living in the lands of present-day Germany as early as the 11th century. From the Middle Ages until the 19th century, many Thorschmidts held prominent positions in the military or the church, and there are records showing the name being associated with property holdings and wealth in certain areas of Germany.
The Thorschmidts are also well represented in Austria, closely linked to their German counterparts. In the modern day, the name Thorschmidt is quite widespread throughout Germany and other German-speaking countries, with people bearing the name now living in countries all over the world. The Thorschmidt family name continues to be an integral part of the culture and history of Germany, and is still seen as a sign of honour and respect in some areas of the country.
Variations of the surname Thorschmidt
Thorschmidt is a German surname that can be spelled in many different variations, including Thorrschmidt, Thorschmiedt, Thorschmitte, Thörschmidt, Thorrschmied, Torrschmidt, Thoerschmidt, Thoerschmiedt, Thörschmitte, Thoerschmitte, Torrschmiedt, Thörschmeyedt, Thorrschmeyedt, Torrschmitte, and Thoerschmeyedt.
The surname may have evolved from a nickname meaning “Thor’s craftman” or “Thor’s smith” in medieval German. The name is associated with the god Thor from Nordic mythology, a mighty warrior and protector of humanity, who is depicted wielding a hammer and riding a chariot pulled by goats.
The surname is believed to have originated in Saxony and West Prussia. Other variants of the surname are found in Denmark, Hungary, France, and the Netherlands, and countries as far afield as the United States and Canada. It is possible that the name appeared in different countries due to the spread of German immigrants.
In Germany, variants of the name are also associated with the Middle High German word “smit” or “schmide” meaning smith which were used to refer to blacksmiths. Still other variants are believed to have evolved from a combination of the words for ‘Thor’ and ‘fellow’ or ‘schmidt’ meaning carpenter, which were used to refer to a carpenter who crafted Thor’s weapons.
Other variants of the surname include Thorrschmidtn, Thorschmitdt, Thorschmiendt, and Thörsecmidt. The many variations of the surname indicate the diversity of people who adopted it over the years and its multinational distribution points to the fact that its holders settled in many countries.
Famous people with the name Thorschmidt
- Axel Thorschmidt: Axel Thorschmidt is a former German handball player and referee for the German Handball Federation. He has been the president of the German Handball Federation since October 2011.
- Carl Thorschmidt: Carl Thorschmidt was a German politician and economist who served as Minister of Economics in the Weimar Republic.
- Corinna Thorschmidt: Corinna Thorschmidt is a German journalist and television presenter.
- Friedrich Thorschmidt: Friedrich Thorschmidt was a German jurist and lawyer who served as the state's attorney for Berlin in the Weimar Republic.
- Hieronymus Thorschmidt: Hieronymus Thorschmidt was a 16th-century German theologian and historian who was known for his works on the Reformation.
- Jens Thorschmidt: Jens Thorschmidt is a German Olympic table tennis player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Johann Thorschmidt: Johann Thorschmidt was a German industrialist and politician who served as a Member of the German Parliament from 1877 to 1890.
- Mathias Thorschmidt: Mathias Thorschmidt was a German glass painter, draftsman, and glass engraver active during the mid 17th century.
- Oskar Thorschmidt: Oskar Thorschmidt was a German physicist who made numerous contributions to the development of telecommunications and information technology in the 19th century.
- Reinhold Thorschmidt: Reinhold Thorschmidt was a German sculptor active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works typically focused on Neo-Baroque and Rococo styles.