Surname Schweikardt - Meaning and Origin

Schweikardt: What does the surname Schweikardt mean?

The last name Schweikardt is a German surname that originated from the Lower Rhine region. The name is derived from the old German word “weikart”, meaning a “guardian” or “keeper” of a property. In the Middle Ages, when land was owned by the ruler of the region, there was often a servant appointed to serve the lord and tend his property, and this title was known as a Schweikardt.

Schweikardt is typically spelled with two “k”s, and the family crest displayed two keys, a symbol of the responsibilities required of the family members. This is consistent with the literal meaning of the surname, as a keeper of a possessions.

The earliest records of the family are found in 1454, when a certain Johannes Schweikardt is noted as being a juror in a local court. After this early point the family begins to spread out, primarily throughout Germany and Austria, although a few branches of the family also spread to other parts of Europe such as Britain and the United States.

Today, people with the last name Schweikardt are found all over the world. As the family left Germany they took their surname and their history with them, ensuring that the name has been preserved for centuries.

Schweikardt: Where does the name Schweikardt come from?

The last name Schweikardt is most commonly found today in areas with historic German immigration. In Germany, the surname was first found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen.

In the United States, the last name Schweikardt is commonly found in Pennsylvania. Areas with high concentrations of Schweikardt include the Pennsylvania cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Philadelphia. This could be a result of a historic German migration in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The prevalence of the surname Schweikardt extends to other countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. Most of these countries were destinations of the German migration of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Additionally, the surname has been found in the Czech Republic, China, and Russia, though less frequently than in the countries mentioned above.

Overall, the last name Schweikardt can be found in counties with historic German emmigration and continued presence throughout the years. Popular countries include the US, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and countries in Europe and Eastern Europe such as Russia and the Czech Republic.

Variations of the surname Schweikardt

Schweikardt is the spelling of the surname which is of German origin and has its roots in the Middle Ages in Germany. Variants of the name can include Schweickhardt, Schweigkhardt, Schwikardt, Schwikkardt, Schweyckardt, Schwiikardt, Schweicardt, Schwieckardt, Schweickeard, Schwieckeard, Schwieckeardt, and Schwekeardt. The spelling of Schweikardt is a variation of the German word "schweigen," which means "secret, silent" or "silent in mind".

The earliest forms of the surname Schweikardt appeared in various records in the Middle Ages. For example, a person with the name Johannes Schweykinardt was recorded living in the city of Tuerin in 1593. The name is most frequently found in regions in the south of Germany, such as Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg. The name is also common in the Rhine-Ruhr area.

However, there are various spellings of the last name in other countries and regions outside of Germany. In Austria, for instance, the spelling "Schweykardt" is quite prevalent. In Switzerland and parts of the Netherlands, the spelling "Schweykardt" appears in some records as well. In Sweden and Norway, the spelling "Schweigert" is used as an alternative.

By contrast, in the United States, the spelling of the surname Schweikardt is rarely seen. The spelling "Schweigkardt" is more commonly found, along with the spelling "Schweiggardt". The last name is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Famous people with the name Schweikardt

• Ryan Schweikardt: An American professional boxer and former two-time featherweight champion of the World Boxing Association.
• Taylor Schweikardt: An Intuitive eating nutrition therapist, body image freedom coach, and freelance writer.
• Dan Schweikardt: A former American collegiate swimmer who was an All-American at the University of Wisconsin.
• Jean-Dominique Schweikardt: Swiss alpine skier who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics.
• Mary Schweikardt: A former model and actress who appeared in films such as Winds of the Wasteland and Big Timber.
• Fritz Schweikardt: A renowned German-American mountaineer and engineer.
• Eric Schweikardt: A longstanding CEO of a public company in Southern California active in the field of outdoor recreational equipment.
• Adolf Schweikardt: An Austrian ornithologist and naturalist.
• Bill Schweikardt: Former lead guitarist of the band Saints of Silence.
• Bart Schweikardt: Winner of the Singapore Open Chess Championship 2019.
• Katharine Schweikardt: Award-winning stage designer who has designed for opera and musical theater.
• Kurt Schweikardt: Bavarian industrialist and collector of armor and arms.
• Leigh Schweikardt: A 20th-century American architect and artist.

Other surnames

SchweikardSchweikart