Surname Pohlschmidt - Meaning and Origin
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Pohlschmidt: What does the surname Pohlschmidt mean?
The last name Pohlschmidt is a German surname derived from the word "pohl" meaning “pool” or “small lake.” This indicates that Pohlschmidt was probably a nickname given to a person who lived near a pool or small lake. Other versions of the surname include Pohlschmid, Pohlsmidt, and Pohlsmitt.
The surname Pohlschmidt dates back to the Middle Ages in Germany. During this period, surnames were assigned to people to distinguish them from other family members who had the same first name. Such surnames were often related to either a person’s occupation, their place of origin, or a physical characteristic. It is likely that in this case, the surname Pohlschmidt was derived from a physical characteristic - living near a pool or lake.
Today, the surname Pohlschmidt is common among German-speaking countries. It is also found in parts of Austria and the Czech Republic. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the surname is most common in the United States in the states of Ohio, Idaho, and Indiana.
Overall, the last name Pohlschmidt is a German surname which likely originated from a nickname given to someone who lived near a pool or small lake. The surname dates back to the Middle Ages and is now found throughout German-speaking countries, and in parts of the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisPohlschmidt: Where does the name Pohlschmidt come from?
The last name Pohlschmidt is most commonly found in Germany and South Africa today. It is believed to be a German name, derived from the Middle Low German words pohle meaning "head" or "top" and schmidt meaning "smith" or "metalworker". It is likely that someone with this name was involved in the craft of metalworking and so the surname was adopted.
In Germany, the last name Pohlschmidt is most prevalent in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, especially in the cities of Essen and Dortmund. It is also found in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. In 2020, it is estimated there are over 2,400 people who have the surname in Germany.
In South Africa, the surname is most commonly found in the Eastern Cape province, followed by Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The last name is generally more common among Afrikaners as opposed to African people, as it was brought to the country during the time of the Dutch colonization of South Africa.
It is believed the name is also found in the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries with large German populations. However, there is no reliable data to confirm this. As the name is relatively uncommon, searching through genealogical records is often the most reliable method for finding out the spread of this last name.
Variations of the surname Pohlschmidt
Pohlschmidt is a surname of German origin, originally spelled as "Pohl Schmidt". It is believed to have originated from the nickname "Pohl", derived from the Middle High German meaning "ruffled", combined with "Schmidt", meaning "smith". Variations of the surname are common, particularly in the United States, due to immigration and naturalization processes, and among the many variations are Pohlsmidt, Pultzsmidt, Pohl-Schmidt, Pultschmidt, Pohl-Schmid, and Pultes Schmidt.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname may have been Americanized upon arrival. This may be seen with the spelling "Pultschmidt", which has a more anglicized spelling than the original German surname. The spelling "Pohl-Schmid", another variation of the name, is also of German origin and is considered to be a hybrid spelling, combining the "Pohl" and "Schmid" components.
In addition to the many variations of the spelling, there are also many variations in surname derivation. The surname may also have derived from the German surnames "Pohle" or "Pohlmann", meaning "boatman". The surname "Pohlke" is believed to be a variation of the original "Pohl Schmidt" surname and may have been derived from the word "pölken" ("floorboard").
No matter the variation in spellings and surnames, all are derived from the original German surname of Pohl Schmidt. Each variation has a distinct history and genealogy, meaning each searches will yield different information.
Famous people with the name Pohlschmidt
- Anton Pohlschmidt (born 1945), German sculptor, large-scale works.
- Ralf Pohlschmidt (born 1954), retired German football player.
- Dieter Pohlschmidt (born 1924), German philanthropist, founder of the Goettingen Foundation for Knowledge and Development.
- Heino Pohlschmidt (1940–2010), German visual artist who focused on abstract painting.
- Jonathan Pohlschmidt (born 1987), German basketball player and multi-instrumentalist.
- Manfred Pohlschmidt (born 1947), prominent German lawyer and former Member of Parliament of the Hamburg Parliament.
- Philipp Pohlschmidt (born 1989), German volleyball player.
- Stefan Pohlschmidt (born 1973), German actor, director and film producer.
- Wolfgang Pohlschmidt (born 1939), former president of the University of Würzburg.