Surname Schleeh - Meaning and Origin
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Schleeh: What does the surname Schleeh mean?
The last name Schleeh is thought to be of German origin. The name may have originated as a habitational surname which was taken on by families that lived in the region of Schleehof, in the German-speaking area of Europe. There is also thought to be a connection between the name and the word for ‘shoe’, as the Schlee family originally worked as cobblers.
The Schlee family is thought to have come from Germany to the United States in the 1800s, though there may have been other branches of the family that ended up in other parts of the world.
Today, the Schleeh family are still spread across the world, though many still reside in the United States.
The Schleeh surname doesn’t appear to have an exact literal translation, but it does have a meaning which is related to the origin of the family - ‘cobbler’ or ‘shoemaker’. It is thought that the Schleeh family, therefore, worked as cobblers when they first started out and the name has been passed down throughout the generations.
The Schleeh name has evolved over time and still carries a certain connotation of being associated with shoemaking and cobbling. Even today, many members of the Schleeh family are still connected to the cobbling industry in some way or another.
Order DNA origin analysisSchleeh: Where does the name Schleeh come from?
The last name Schleeh is most commonly found across parts of Germany, where it is the 1195th most common last name in the country. In Switzerland, the name is similarly common, where it ranks as the 897th most popular last name.
The name Schleeh is derived from the Middle High German word “schlæm”, and is closely related to words such as “schlafen” or “schlügen”. It is the combination of two separate words meaning “gentleman” and “earth”, signifying that the bearer of the name originally came from a quality, noble family.
Within German-speaking areas, the name is typically spelled “Schleeh”, although variations such as “Schleyh” or “Schlaeh” can still occasionally be found.
Outside of Europe, instances of the last name are still quite rare. In the United States, it is found primarily amongst those with ancestral ties to German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and is estimated to account for only around 0.001% of the population. Other locations where the name can be found include Canada and Argentina.
Variations of the surname Schleeh
The surname "Schleeh" is generally of German, Dutch, and Jewish origin. It is sometimes spelled as "Schleeh", "Schleich", "Sleeh", or "Schlieh". It is also sometimes found with the suffixes "er" (Schleeher), "man" (Schleehman), or "mann" (Schleehmann).
The spelling variations of the surname Schleeh are most likely due to the difference in dialects of the language used in various parts of the German, Dutch, and Jewish homelands. In some instances, the original surname has been shortened or changed when people crossed the ocean to America or other English speaking nations.
The surname Schleeh is found primarily in the areas of Germanic-speaking Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in many Central and Eastern European countries, including Hungary, Romania, Poland, and Ukraine. In addition, some branches of the same family have emigrated to North America, Latin America, South Africa, and Australia.
The earliest known written record of the Schleeh surname dates back to early 13th century Germany, where someone by the name of Uterus de Schleech appears in records of the City of Nuenberg. Other early records of the surname include records of the marriage of Jost Schleech in 1651, and the death record of Eva Schlichman at the age of 66 in 1739 in Nuenberg.
Many people with the surname Schleeh have made a name for themselves in various fields of life, such as arts, politics, finance, science, and sports. Some well-known people from the family may include the German composer Hans Schacht Schleeh, the British actor Bill Nighy, and the American hip-hop artist Juicy J.
Famous people with the name Schleeh
- Jessica Schleeh: American actress, artist, producer and choreographer.
- Johannes Schleeh: German composer and musician.
- Luise Schleeh: German film actress.
- Richard Schleeh: American Olympic pole vaulter.
- Mike Schleeh: American artist and sculptor.
- Tino Schleeh: German soccer player.
- Margarete Schleeh: German actress, singer and acrobatic dancer.
- Elisabeth Schleeh: Austrian operatic soprano.
- Kerstin Schleeh: German swimmer.
- Shelly Schleeh: American ex convict, activist and author.