Surname Schweinefleisch - Meaning and Origin
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Schweinefleisch: What does the surname Schweinefleisch mean?
The last name Schweinefleisch is a German name which literally means “pig flesh” or “pork” in English. The name likely has an occupational origin, supporting evidence that many of its bearers were butchers or those who worked extensively with pork products.
This can often be seen in its geographical distribution: the name is mostly confined to the Rhine region in Germany and parts of western Europe. The name would have first been taken up by a pig farmer or butcher in the Rhineland region around the 13th century, when it would have been a highly prized trade due to the amount of pork consumed as a dietary staple in the area.
Schweinefleisch was likely used as a sign of status, based on the ability of the family to keep pork prices stable and quality high. Since then, the name has stood as a sign of wealth, status, and a family's dedication to their craft.
Those with the last name are proud of their heritage, embracing their craft as part of their identity. For them, the name carries a feeling of respect, both for the work done by their ancestors and for the art of butchering in general.
Order DNA origin analysisSchweinefleisch: Where does the name Schweinefleisch come from?
The last name Schweinefleisch is likely of German origin. Based on the 2000 U.S. census, the surname is most common in the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Maryland as well as the District of Columbia. Although the surname Schweinefleisch is now rare, there are still many German-Americans with this name living in the United States.
The surname Schweinefleisch can also be found in Canada and parts of Europe, particularly Germany. According to genealogists, the name Schweinefleisch was brought to North America in the 1700s or early 1800s by immigrants from German-speaking areas. In Canada, the name is often found in cities with high German-speaking populations such as Winnipeg, Winnipeg Beach, and Portage la Prairie in Manitoba.
In Germany, the last name Schweinefleisch is still quite common in areas of Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The name is also quite popular in northern Switzerland, particularly in the canton of Zurich, as well as in the Netherlands.
It is clear from the data that the surname Schweinefleisch is still very much alive and well today, though it is certainly more rare than it was hundreds of years ago. As more German-Americans intermarry and have children, the surname is likely to continue to be passed down in many families both in the United States and abroad.
Variations of the surname Schweinefleisch
The surname Schweinefleisch is a German last name derived from the word 'schwein', meaning 'pig'. The name is derived from a middle-high German word swein yet is likely to have been influenced by its modern variant, ‘Schwein’. In its modern form, the name suggests someone of swine related agricultural occupation or an area of origin such as ‘Schweinfeld’, a village in Lower Saxony, Germany. Schweinefleisch is used as an affectionate nickname for one’s self or others, and is often linked to someone’s place of origin within the Germany. It is also the surname of a dynastic family of German nobility, prominent in 16th century Germany.
The same origin of the surname Schweinefleisch includes variants in spelling such as Schweinfleisch, Schweinesfleisch, and Schweinleitse. For surnames, variants include Schwein, Schweine, Schweins, Schweintz, and Schweinz. As the surname suggests an occupation of someone involved in the husbandry of livestock, then alternative surnames derived from the same origin can also include Schweidler for a swine herder, and Schweihaar a surname for someone belonging to the swine herd. Other names referencing the same root word of ‘schwein’ are Schenk, Schnack, Schneck, Schnepf, Schnepp, Schnucker, Schonert and Schopper.
Famous people with the name Schweinefleisch
- Ilayda Schweinefleisch: Ilayda Schweinefleisch is a German actress, best known for her role in the film Clouds of Sils Maria, for which she was nominated for the 2014 European Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
- Dan Schweinefleisch: Dan Schweinefleisch is an American stand-up comedian and actor, who has been featured in Netflix Original Series Orange is the New Black, as well as in films such as Guess Who and Evan Almighty.
- Hans Schweinefleisch: Hans Schweinefleisch is a German urban artist, known for creating sculptures and public art in places like Hamburg, Berlin and Zurich.
- Ludwig Schweinefleisch: Ludwig Schweinefleisch is a German theater director and playwright, best known for his work on the musical comedy Der Kleine Vampir, which he wrote the libretto for and directed.
- Stephan Schweinefleisch: Stephan Schweinefleisch is a renowned German photographer, best known for his award-winning photography of landscapes of his native Bavaria.
- Elisabeth Schweinefleisch: Elisabeth Schweinefleisch is a German fashion designer, who has showcased her breathtaking gowns at major fashion shows in France and Italy.
- Max Schweinefleisch: Max Schweinefleisch is a Swiss downhill skier, who represented his nation at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
- Olga Schweinefleisch: Olga Schweinefleisch is a German cyclist, who won gold at the UCI World Cup on the track during the 2014/15 season.