Surname Schwann - Meaning and Origin
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Schwann: What does the surname Schwann mean?
The last name Schwann is of German or Jewish origin. It is a German name derived from "swan," meaning "a large water bird," and the suffix -ern, indicating a place of residence. In other words, Schwann likely originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a lake or a river where swans were abundant. It is now found mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but it may have been adopted by Jewish immigrants in other countries, including the United States.
In German language, the Schwann surname is historically associated with the trade of a food product, such as salted or smoked meats. It is also associated with professions such as craftsman, farmer, weaver or tailor. Prominent bearers of the name include famous German physicist and zoologist Theodor Schwann who developed the cell theory of biology in the mid-19th century, as well as chess grandmaster Hans-Bodo Schwann, tennis player Philipp Schwann, and Austrian fashion designer Herra Schwann.
The Schwann family motto is believed to be "Fortiter et Fideliter," which is derived from a Latin phrase meaning "faithfully and bravely." This further reinforces the family’s strong links to their German heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwann: Where does the name Schwann come from?
The last name Schwann is found in many countries around the world today including Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It is also quite common in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The origin of the Schwann surname is uncertain, though it is thought to have arisen in Germany. There are various theories on the origin of the name, including that it originated as a reference to a family’s background in the Schwann region in Germany, or that the name could derive from the Old High German expression ‘schwan’, meaning a swan.
In the United States, as of the 2020 census, it was the 3159th most common surname, with about 2700 people carrying the name. It has been found in records from the 18th century onward and has a long history in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, records of the name go back to the 13th century and it is believed to have been brought to the British Isles by German settlers. It was given to people who lived in Schwann, a place name found on many maps in Germany today. Today it is the 7990th most common surname.
In Canada, the name is less common with 2172 people carrying the name as of the 2015 Census, representing a decrease since the last census. The Schwann name is believed to have been brought over to North America by German immigrants during the 19th century.
Overall, the last name Schwann is still in circulation today, with the highest concentrations in Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Schwann
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Schwann are:
- Schwann
- Swan
- Schwane
- Schwahn
- Schwannen
- Schwanns
- Shwann
- Schwann-Meyer
- Schwenk
- Schwan
- Schewan
- Schwannmann
- Schwannenberger
- Schwannmeyer
- Schwannenberg
- Schwannmacher
- Schwann-Faber
- Schwennesen
- Schwannig
- Schwandt
- Schwanderer
- Schwandtner
- Svan
- Svahn
- Svahnen
The surname Schwann is a German occupational surname originating from the Middle High German word ‘swaned’ meaning ‘swan’ and indicates that a distant ancestor worked as a swan herder or keeper. The spelling of the surname changed as people moved from one region to another over the centuries. The spelling variations of the surname Schwann include Swan, Schwane, Schwahn, Schwannen, Schwanns and Shwann. Some families of this surname also chose to take on the hyphenated surname Schwann-Meyer and Schwann-Faber. As Germans immigrated to America and other English speaking areas, many families had the spelling of their surnames adapted to fit the local language, such as Schewan and Schwannmann. There are also some variations of the name that come from geographical or regional influences, such as Schwannenberger, Schwannmeyer, Schwannenberg, Schwannmacher, Schwennesen, Schwannig, Schwandt, Schwanderer, Schwandtner, Svan, Svahn and Svahnen.
Famous people with the name Schwann
- Theodor Schwann: He was a German physiologist and histologist who was born in 1810. He provided the first scientific description of cells, as well as introducing the concept of metabolism and being the first to suggest the concept of tissue differentiation.
- Gustav Schwann: He was a German author, meteorologist, engineer, and innovator who was born in 1873. Along with working in meteorology and engineering, he also wrote several novels in the early part of the 20th century.
- Robert Schwann: He was a German geographer who was born in 1896. He was best known for his works on regional geography, especially his field studies of mountain areas.
- Emmi Schwann: She was an Austrian novelist and playwright who lived in the late nineteenth century. She wrote mainly in German, although many of her works have been translated into other languages, such as English.
- John Schwann: He was a British sculptor who was born in 1955. He is well known for his large metal sculptures, often depicting figures or objects, which he creates using stainless steel, bronze, and other metals.
- Nicole Schwann: She is an German musician, singer, and songwriter who was born in 1982. Her musical style is described as "electronica Volksmusik", blending electronic sounds with traditional folk music from Germany and Austria.
- Oskar Schwann: He was a German botanist who was born in 1883. He is famous for his work on plant physiology, especially for hypothesizing the lipid hypothesis of cell wall formation. He was also vital in the development of the Naegeli-Oscillator, a device used to measure the electrical activity of plant cells.