Surname Schmerkotte - Meaning and Origin

Schmerkotte: What does the surname Schmerkotte mean?

The surname Schmerkotte is a German occupational surname. The word Schmerkotte is derived from the German word Smakerkotten, which means to sells or auction off items. This indicates that the original bearer of the name Schmerkotte was a professional auctioneer in a medieval German community.

Schmerkotte is a rare surname, primarily found in Germany and Dutch-speaking countries. Today, it is a surname that is mainly associated with the Netherlands. In Germany, the name has been traced back to at least the 18th century, with records of the family name Schmerkotte being found in the records of churches and farmer’s lists of the time.

Schmerkotte can be found in England, Australia and across the United States. People bearing the surname Schmerkotte come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, but all are connected by the rare and unique language of their surname – the German language. The name Schmerkotte represents a piece of history that connects people across different countries, linguistic backgrounds and cultures.

Schmerkotte: Where does the name Schmerkotte come from?

The last name Schmerkotte is primarily found in the modern day German states of Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg. It is believed to originate from an area known as Schmerkotten in Rhineland-Palatinate, which is located near the towns of Kaiserslautern and Wittlich. The first record of this surname being used is believed to be in the mid-1700s.

In terms of density, the name Schmerkotte is concentrated most heavily in the Rhineland. A 2020 analysis revealed that the last name is held by 790 people in the state, with the largest numbers located in the cities and towns of Kaiserslautern, Ramstein-Miesenbach, and Wittlich. Lower Saxony has the second highest population of Schmerkottes, with 519 individuals residing there. The most significant numbers can be found in the cities and towns of Wunstorf, Sulingen, and Hanover. In both North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, only a handful of people with this last name live in each state.

Individuals with the surname Schmerkotte can also be found outside of Germany, primarily in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. While their numbers are much lower than those in Germany, it is believed that most of them can trace their ancestry back to Germany.

Variations of the surname Schmerkotte

The surname Schmerkotte is of German origin, derived from the place-name Schmierkotten. It first appeared in the records in the mid-1500s, when a man with the surname lived in the small village of Dunum in northern Germany. The various spellings of the name include Schmerkotte, Schmierkotten, Schmierkoten, Schmierkotte, Schmerkotter, Schmierkotter and Schmierkotten.

Over time, descendants of the original Schmerkotte family have spread across Europe and taken on other surnames. One such example is Schemerkott, which traces its origin to Germany in the 1600s. Another example is the Germanic name Schammerkottle, which can be found in records from the 1700s in Romania.

In the United States, some immigrants changed their surname to Shermancott, while others, particularly those who settled in Louisiana, changed it to Sherckett. There also exist variants such as Schermethun, Shennan, Sherkumpel and Schirmkotter.

In addition to the variants of the name, some of the descendants of the Schmerkotte family have also taken on distinct surnames. One example is the beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss (real name Theodor Geisel), whose father came from a branch of the Schmerkotte family. Poet Carl Sandburg was also a Schmerkotte descendant, as was the artist Grandma Moses.

In summary, the surname Schmerkotte was originally derived from the place-name Schmierkotten and has since evolved and taken on various spellings and surnames throughout Europe and the United States.

Famous people with the name Schmerkotte

• Max Schmerkotte: The Canadian singer-songwriter, performing artist and music producer.
• Karl-Heinz Schmerkotte: The former brands and sales manager at the car manufacturer Porsche.
• Phoebe Schmerkotte: Notable for her fashion-design accomplishments and best known for the "Schmerkotte Collection".
• Andrey Schmerkotte: Founder of the American athletic-apparel company, "Schmerkotte Athletics".
• Jan Schmerkotte: German sports photographer and former professional footballer.
• Bodo Schmerkotte: German television presenter and journalist.
• Finn Schmerkotte: Professional esports player who competes in the League of Legends Championship Series.
• Holger Schmerkotte: Actor and renowned theatre director.
• Lena Schmerkotte: Philanthropist and social services advocate.
• Christine Schmerkotte: Former professional ski racer from Germany.
• Imke Schmerkotte: Award-winning media personality and television presenter.

Other surnames

Schmerkötter