Surname Szmida - Meaning and Origin
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Szmida: What does the surname Szmida mean?
The Polish surname Szmida has two possible meanings. First, it may come from the popular Polish word "szmida," which translates to "grave" or "tombstone." This could refer to a place where a family was buried, or to an ancestor who had passed away. It is also possible that this surname originated as a nickname derived from the Polish word "szmiedz," meaning "smith," or metalworker.
In the Polish language, the sound "z" is often pronounced like the "sh" in English. This is why Szmida is sometimes seen spelled as "Shmida." The prefix "Szmi-" is also a popular way to form patronymic surnames, meaning that it is likely that Szmida was derived from a given name such as "Smiedz" or "Shmila," which were both popular first names in Poland during the Middle Ages.
The surname Szmida is still relatively widespread in Poland, particularly in the southeastern part of the country. It is also found in relatively large numbers in Germany, the United States, and Brazil. The variation "Shmida," however, is more concentrated in the United States. It is likely that the first Szmidas or Shmidas to leave Poland were merchants, looking to establish themselves abroad in search of greater economic opportunities.
Order DNA origin analysisSzmida: Where does the name Szmida come from?
The last name Szmida is most common in Poland. Szmida is a geographic last name, meaning it was derived from an area the ancestral family lived in. It is likely related to a place-name within the then-Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The surname Szmida has been documented in Polish documents as far back as the 16th century, making it one of the oldest family names of Polish origin. It is most likely derived from the word szmieda, which is an occupational surname taken from the word meaning "smith". Smiths were an important part of Polish society during the middle ages, often creating weapons, tools, and other items from metal that were essential for everyday life.
In modern times, the last name Szmida is still quite common in Poland. Census records indicate that it is the 278th most common last name in the country. The larger cities of Krakow, Poznan, Warsaw, and Lodz are popular locations for Szmidas today. Additionally, it is found in cities outside of Poland, such as the United States, Canada, and Israel, where it has been adopted by those of Polish descent. Today, the last name Szmida can be found in Polish-speaking communities all over the world.
Variations of the surname Szmida
The surname Szmida is a variant of the Polish and Central European name Smida and is pronounced as “SHMEED-ah”. It is an occupational surname derived from the Czech and Polish word “smid”, which means blacksmith.
Variants of the surname Szmida include Smidda, Smidle, Smidel, Smidla, Schmied and Schmiedel. Alternately spelled surnames include Szmieda, Szmidt, Szmidel, Smida, Szmido, Smid, Smiedel, Smied, Smiedla, Smiedlo, and Szmiedla.
In Poland, the countries of former Yugoslavia and in some parts of the Ukraine, Szmida is an almost certain representation of the surname Smida. Other nations who have various spellings of the surname include Slovak, Czech, Hungarian, Austrian, Germanic and Dutch.
The surname remains most prominent in the Central European countries. It is not a common name outside of Central and Eastern Europe.
In the United States, the absolute number of people in the country with the surname Szmida is few in number, but is still represented strongly in regional areas of Michigan and Illinois.
Famous people with the name Szmida
- Mateusz Szmida: a Polish footballer who currently plays for Widzew Łódź in the Polish 2nd League.
- Magda Szmida: a professional Polish table tennis player who participated in the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.
- Bartosz Szmida: a Polish-born physicist and professor of physics at the University of Warsaw.
- Krzysztof Szmida: a Polish director and cinematographer, best known for his work on history and documentary films.
- Michał Szmida: a Polish poet and writer best known for his poems and translations of classical works.
- Marianna Szmida: a Polish actress who performed in theater and appeared in TV series and films.
- Jack Szmida: a retired American Major League Baseball outfielder.
- Antonina Szmida: a Polish water painter and children's book illustrator.
- Joanna Szmida: a Polish contemporary abstract painter.
- Ryszard Szmida: a Polish athlete who competed in the 800 meters in the 1960 Summer Olympics.