Surname Schweikhart - Meaning and Origin
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Schweikhart: What does the surname Schweikhart mean?
The surname Schweikhart is a German occupation name, meaning “shepherd” or “sheep herder.” It is likely derived from the Middle High German words “schafe” (sheep) and “hirte” (protector or custodian).
The earliest recorded use of the Schweikhart surname was in Arnaufunge Tann, Bergstraße, Rhineland during the mid-1500s and it became quite common in the area by 1601. By the late 1700s and early 1800s, more members of the Schweikhart family began to migrate outside of Germany, particularly to the United States and New Zealand.
Today, there are many Schweikarts around the world. In the United States, the state of Ohio has one of the highest concentrations of the name. It is also commonly found in Germany, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Canada, and the UK.
The surname Schweikhart is symbolic of those who take responsibility for tending and protecting animals. It is a reminder of hard-working individuals who are dedicated to their craft and to providing for their families.
Order DNA origin analysisSchweikhart: Where does the name Schweikhart come from?
The last name Schweikhart can be found today primarily in Germany, Austria, and the United States. It is a relatively uncommon name, however, as only a few thousand individuals bear it.
The majority of Schweikhart households and individuals can be found in Germany, with around 4,680 recorded in the country according to the Deutschland Namenarchiv (German Name Archive). This name is most common in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
In Austria, the surname Schweikhart is also present, though the number of households is much lower than that of Germany. Around 1,500 households are believed to reside there.
When it comes to the United States, the U.S. Census shows that approximately 380 households bear this last name. This number has decreased compared to previous years. The most significant concentration of Schweikharts can be found in Michigan, with other smaller numbers in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and California.
Overall, the last name Schweikhart is most common in Germany, but it can also be found in Austria and the United States. Although the number of households with this surname is not huge, it is still relatively widespread across the three countries.
Variations of the surname Schweikhart
The surname Schweikhart has a wide range of spelling variations in the German language. In the Middle Ages, the spelling of names was not standardized, so people often used what matched the sound of their name when writing it down. Some of the spelling variations for the surname Schweikhart include Schaichart, Schayckhart, Schaykhart, Sciackhart, Schayckhert, Schwaickhart, Schwaighard, Schwaighardt, Schwackherd, Schwacht, Schwachtnegger, Schwachhart, Schwackhardt, Schwacthecker, Schwackhofer, Schwager, Schwagers and many more.
Surnames that descended from the Schweikhart family include Schachter, Schwartz, Schwartzburg, Schusters, Schickovicz, Schubert, Schulte, Schulze, and Schuster. These surnames often come from a wide variety of interpretations, including occupational surnames such as Schwachtmeaner (for a wool stamper) and Schwachtwearer (for a person who made leather goods) or topographical locations.
The closest related forms of the surname Schweikhart is the Jewish variation Shwachtman, that appears in the records of Jews of Galicia in the 19th century. This variation has been found in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and other regions of Central and Eastern Europe. A variant of Shwachtman is Shwekhart which is a variation of Schweikhart. It is also the spelling of Schweikhart variant commonly used in the Czech Republic.
The origin of the surname Schweikhart comes from a combination of the old German words ‘swacht’ (meaning watchful) and ‘hart’ (meaning hard). This likely refers to someone who kept watch or guard over something; such a person could have been a soldier or a sentry. The name could also refer to someone who lived in a watchtower or on a boundary between two properties.
Overall, the surname Schweikhart has many variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Schachter, Schwartz, Schwartzburg, Schusters, Schickovicz, Schubert, Schulte, Schulze, and Schuster. Other variations of the name include Shwachtman, Shwekhart, and Sciackhart. All of these variations of the surname Schweikhart originate from the old German words ‘swacht’ and ‘hart’ and refer to someone who was watchful and hard.
Famous people with the name Schweikhart
- Nils Schweikhart: A German-Austrian actor known for his roles in movies like “Friends” and “Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra”.
- Werner Schweikhart: A Brazilian comics author, famed for his comic book series “O Gato Preto”.
- Scarlett Schweikhart: Daughter of Werner Schweikhart, and a German fashion model.
- Katja Schweikhart: German author and editor of various publications on health and medical issues.
- Marcus Schweikhart: A German-born cinematographer, known for his work on films such as “Rache Englisch” and “The Bourne Identity”.
- Norbert Schweikhart: An Austrian-American actor, whose notable roles include leading roles in the TV film “Kronenbraut” and the action-thriller “Der Besucher”.
- Carla Schweikhart: A German-born photographer and artist.
- Christian Schweikhart: A Swiss climber and adventurer, who climbed the highest peaks of the world's seven continents.
- Rudi Schweikhart: A German athlete, whose canoe world championship feat in 2014 earned him the title of “Olympic Champion of the Rhine River”.
- Bernhard Schweikhart: A German entrepreneur, builder, and philanthropist, who founded the Schweikhart Foundation and supported numerous charitable organizations in his lifetime.