Surname Schreck - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering My Schreck Heritage: A Journey Back in Time Through iGENEA DNA Test
Fascinated by my ancestry and armed with curiosity, I embarked on a journey to trace my roots using an iGENEA DNA Test. The results were a revelation, enlightening me not just about my distinct genetic lineage, but also about the multifaceted, captivating history of my surname – Schreck.
V. Schreck
read moreSchreck: What does the surname Schreck mean?
The last name Schreck is of German origin that translates to "fright" or "terror". It is thought to be a topographic name, which refers to someone who lived where something frightening was located, described or frequently seen. The earliest known bearer of the name dates to 1486 in Bavaria, Germany, where the Schreck family were landowners.
In the centuries following, the Schreck family spread throughout Europe. Many members of the Schreck family ended up migrating to the United States during the 19th century, where the name became quite popular.
The Schreck surname is still found across the United States today, with the largest concentration of this surname in New Jersey. People with this last name are typically found in areas where German immigrants settled, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California.
Overall, the name Schreck holds strong ties to the German culture, with a family that has a rich history across Europe and the United States. The continuation of this name today is a testament to the family’s strength and courage. The legacy of their past lives on through those who still bear the name Schreck.
Order DNA origin analysisSchreck: Where does the name Schreck come from?
The last name Schreck is most commonly found in the German-speaking parts of Europe – Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Its prevalence in Germany is higher due to its centuries-old Germanic lineage, where it is the 35th most common surname in Germany. This surname has also spread to countries such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, with Germany having the highest number of Schrecks in those countries.
The surname Schreck is believed to have originated from Middle High German, where its literal meaning was “terror” or “fear”. There are varied interpretations of the last name, with some suggesting it refers to someone who was able to generate fear, while others simply consider it to be a topographic name, originally used to refer to someone who lived near an area of terror or fear. It may also have been used a personal nickname to describe a fierce or brave person.
The Schreck name has spread around the world over the centuries, with common variants in several countries. Alternative spellings include Schrecks, Schrecker, Schreckers, Schreckmann, Schreckoly, and Schrekkenstein. Despite its global spread, the Schreck name is most commonly found in the German-speaking regions of the world.
Variations of the surname Schreck
The surname Schreck is a variant of Shreck, and both spellings are derived from the German word "Schrecken" meaning "fear" or "terror". As such, the surname is thought to have been a nickname for someone who was particularly fierce or frightening, as well as someone who was easily frightened.
In Germany, Schreck is still a quite common surname, although the spelling Shreck is now found throughout the United States and Canada as well. Variations of the surname can also be found. These include Schrick, Schrek, Schrecks and Schrecker, as well as many others.
In addition, the surname is found in many countries around the world, usually in the form of the root spelling of Schreck. In France, this surname can be found as Schreckou. In the Netherlands it is spelled Schrekl, and in Poland as Szrekl. In Hungary, the surname is continued as Srecky, while in Russia it has a similar form of Shregel.
Meanwhile, in the United States and Canada, the spelling Shreck is found quite frequently. Other variants, such as Shreckengost, Shreckhise and Shreckengost have a similarly derived meaning.
In conclusion, the surname Schreck is a variant of Shreck, and is most likely derived from the German word "Schrecken" meaning "fear" or "terror". Variations of this surname can be found in many countries, and in the United States and Canada it is usually spelled Shreck.
Famous people with the name Schreck
- Robert Schreck: German actor
- Nicholas Schreck: American philosopher, writer, and photographer
- Bella Schreck Facey: British director and producer
- Susanna Schreck: German actress
- Marlon Schreck: American stuntman
- Bill Schreck: American television director
- Chloë Schreck: American multi-instrumentalist
- Rachel Schreck: German actress
- Gérard Schreck: French rugby union player
- Erwin Rolf Schreck: German soprano singer
- Holger Schreck: German field hockey player
- Mary Schreck: American musician
- David Schreck: Canadian politician
- Joe Schreck: American Major League Baseball player
- Johan Schreck: German officer
- Karl Schreck: German actor
- Ariane C. Schreck: American Celtic flutist, composer, and lyricist
- Brigitte Schreck-Quinteros: Chilean actress
- Clara Schreck: German producer and director
- Philip Schreck: German actor