Surname Schleer - Meaning and Origin
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Schleer: What does the surname Schleer mean?
The German surname Schleer is derived from the German word “schleier” which can be translated as “veil, shawl or cloak”. Historically, it was a reference to occupations such as tailors, weavers, or dyers who worked to produce these items. Alternatively, the name could be derived from the word “schleich”, meaning to creep, as well as “schlesch” or “schleschen”, meaning treacherous or deceitful, and indicating that the original bearer of the name was stealthy or sneaky.
The modern spelling of the surname has likely appeared in Germany since the High Middle Ages, though its exact origin and foundation has been lost to time. In most cases, the name is associated with migrants from Germany, who brought the name with them to their new countries in the 18th century. Today, the Schleer surname is found mainly in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
From a physical appearance standpoint, it is believed that the people bearing Schleer surnames generally have fair to light colored skin, light eyes, and a medium build. While the appearance of Schleers may vary, most of them have been said to maintain an air of trustworthiness and strength of character.
Overall, the surname Schleer carries a deep and complex history indicating various occupations and different meanings. Its origins may be lost to time, but the legacy of this name will be remembered for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisSchleer: Where does the name Schleer come from?
The last name Schleer is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a German surname, believed to be derived from schlüer, the German word for one who cuts. It is most heavily concentrated in north-western Germany, particularly in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, where it is listed as the 44th and 46th most common surname, respectively.
Schleers are also found in Germany's neighbouring countries. The name is particularly popular in Belgium, where it is the 233rd most common surname, and in Austria, where it ranks as the 473rd most common. It is also present in the Netherlands, where it is ranked as the 994th most common last name. Across Europe, Schleer is most often found in Germany, Belgium, Austria, and the Netherlands.
The surname has made its way to North America, too, with a small but growing population of Schleer descendants living in the United States and Canada. In the US, Schleer is most heavily concentrated in Florida, where it is ranked as the 13,465th most common last name.
Overall, the last name Schleer is most common in Germany, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, and North America, making up a small but growing proportion of the population.
Variations of the surname Schleer
Schleer is an anglicized spelling of a German surname originating from the Old German word for “clear”. It is also spelled Schlèer, Schler, Schleier, and Schleyer. It is also found in derivatives as Schleyer, Schleirer, Schleyrer, Schleere, Schleerrer, Schlerer, Schleyser and Schluer.
Some descendants of the original German surname are found among Ashkenazi Jewish populations, where it may be spelled Schleyer, Schleirer, Schleerer or Schlerer or with variant spellings.
A variant of Schleer is Shelfer which is a contemporary form of the old German name Schelfer that was derived from the Middle High German word “schelff” which means “shelf” or “ledge” and would have referred to someone who lived near or near a shelf or ledge.
Geiger is another related surname with a similar origin to Schleer. This surname originated from Middle High German “geige” which refers to a bowed stringed instrument similar to the violin. It would have referred to someone who made these instruments. Geiger is also found in derivatives such as Geigher, Gehr, Gehrle, Geigle and Geigl.
Schlee is yet another related surname that derived from Middle High German “sleh” which meant “slower” or “sluggish”. It was a nickname for someone who was considered slow or lazy. Derivatives of this surname include Schleehaupt, Schlegel, Schlegl, Schlesinger, Schlessinger, and Schlesser.
All of these surnames have their origin in Old and Middle High German words for clear, shelf, and slow respectively. With slight spelling differences, they all share a common root and hint at the past livelihood or character traits of their original bearers.
Famous people with the name Schleer
- Lothar Sleer: German actor best known for his roles in 1944's Weisse Hearts, 1945's The Last Waltz, and the 1948 German adaptation of Robinson Crusoe.
- Hans Sleer: German painter known for his post-apocalyptic paintings which depict the destruction of normality and the dangers of nuclear war.
- Richard Schleer: American photographer and journalist who documented aspects of life in Africa.
- Charles Schleer: Swiss astronomer and astrophysicist who worked on creating a map of the entire sky from observations made with a network of many telescopes.
- David Schleer: German entrepreneur and inventor who created the first world-wide, real-time athlete monitoring and data analysis system.
- Karl Schleer: Austrian sculptor whose works featured realistic human figures.
- Gustav Schleer: German artist who was known for his expressionist and abstract art.
- Paul Schleer: British physicist who focused on quantum gravity and quantum field theory.
- Michael Schleer: German sommelier and wine expert who is the author of several books on wine and its production.
- Christian Schleer: American politician who served as a representative in the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.