Surname Breitscheid - Meaning and Origin
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Breitscheid: What does the surname Breitscheid mean?
The surname Breitscheid originates from Germany and translates to "wide wood" in English. The name likely originates from a village in the Westerwald mountains called Breitscheid, which is home to a castle of the same name, as well as a castle ruin.
The Breitscheid family likely took their name from their home village, which has a long history of being part of the Duchy of Nassau beginning in the 13th century. Records of the Breitscheid family began to surface in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with family members bearing the name appearing in legal records such as contracts and land deeds.
Today, the Breitscheid name is common in the western German states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse as well as in Austria.
Although the German-language website www.Breitscheid.de states that the name is “widely recognized throughout German-speaking countries,” the coat of arms associated with the Breitscheid family is not yet known. This is likely due to the fact that the Breitscheid family was rather smaller and may not have obtained a coat of arms of its own.
Despite its lack of a coat of arms, the Breitscheid name has persisted for generations. It represents a proud heritage and a long family history.
Order DNA origin analysisBreitscheid: Where does the name Breitscheid come from?
Breitscheid is a surname of German origin that is widely found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also common in the United States, particularly among those with German ancestry. The name is derived from the German "breit" meaning wide, and "schied" meaning boundary, distinction, or separation.
Breitscheid is most common in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, and Rhineland-Palatinate. The name is also widely found in the German-speaking area of Switzerland and the Austrian Tyrol region. In the United States, the name Breitscheid is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The Breitscheid family is believed to have originated in the Odenwald Area in southern Germany, and to have migrated to northern Germany and then into the United States. The first recorded member of the family in the United States was Henry Breitscheid in the early 1700s. He settled in Pennsylvania with his wife Maria. The Breitscheid family has since spread to many other parts of the country with subsequent generations of the family.
Today, the name Breitscheid is associated with those of German heritage as well as those with a rich family history. The name has served as a symbol of German-American identity as well as a link to the family's past. It is a common name with a rich history that links both past and present generations.
Variations of the surname Breitscheid
The Breitscheid surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the Breitscheid surname include the German Breitschädel and Breitscheidt, the Dutch Breitse and the French Bretèche. There may also be variants that are derived from other German speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
In some cases, the spelling of Breitschädel may have been altered and adopted as a distinct surname. Examples of this include Bretchi, Brischke, Breetzke, Breitseid, and Breetz. These variants may be shortened or changed to fit the language and customs of the local population but are still derived from the original Breitschädel.
There are several other surnames which may be related to Breitscheid but have their own individual spelling and variations. Examples of these include Breitling, Breitkopf, and Breitweiser. These are all derived from the same original Breitschädel name, but they are spelled differently to fit local customs.
The spellings and surnames of Breitscheid can also be found in different Latinized forms such as Breitcheid, or with an additional suffix such as -er, -en, -el, or -le. Other variations include Breitdorf, Breitspiegel, and Breitspieler.
In some more rural regions, the surname may have been transformed into Briedschöiden or Briedschöidle. This surname is a German version of the Latinized form, Breitscheidel.
Overall, the various spellings and surnames of the Breitscheid surname are derived from its origins in the German-speaking countries of Europe. Although many of these variations have different spelling and may have been changed to fit the local customs, they all are still related to the original Breitschädel name.
Famous people with the name Breitscheid
- Richard von Kühlmann-Stumm, Count of Breitscheid (1873–1945) German politician.
- Countess Marie-Luise von Breitscheid-Stumm (1893–1963) wife of Richard von Kühlmann-Stumm.
- Gerhard von Breitscheid (1878–1947) German politician, from 1932 to 1941, Reichsminister of Economic Affairs.
- Adam Breitscheid (1746–1822) Austro-Hungarian diplomat.
- Peter Breitscheid (1917–1943) German Luftwaffe fighter ace.
- Melchior von Breitscheid (1573–1625) German theologian.
- Johann Christoph Breitheschild (1698-1750) German poet and hymn-writer.
- Gesa von Breitscheid German model.
- Otto von Breitscheid (1873-1944) German attorney and lawyer.
- Carl Breitscheid (1870-1953) German economist.
- Nigella von Breitscheid (1852-1901) German historian.
- Carl-Friedrich von Breitscheid (1766-1847) Prussian general.
- Johann Philipp Breitsehl (1738-1810) German physician.
- Franz von Breitscheid (1877-1944) German literary critic.
- Ferdinand von Breitscheid (1772-1817) Prussian field marshal.
- Friedrich Wilhelm von Breitscheid (1758-1827) Prussian lieutenant-general.
- Margot von Breitscheid (1786-1855) German baroness.
- Friedrich von Breitscheid (1550-1597) German statesman and diplomat.
- Adolf von Breitscheid (1825-1898) German politician and historian.
- Wilhelm von Breitscheid (1837-1895) German lawyer and legal scholar.