Schmitt
A German surname meaning “smith,” originally given to a metalworker.
The #967 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,566 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Schmitt is a German occupational surname from the word for a smith or metalworker. It belongs to the same name family as Schmidt, Schmitz, and English Smith, all ultimately going back to the old Germanic root for hammering or forging metal. The spelling Schmitt is a regional and variant form that developed alongside other German spellings of the same occupational name.
History
This surname is especially common in German-speaking areas and appears in many spelling forms across Germany and neighboring regions. Historical onomastic works note that Schmitt, Schmidt, and related forms are among the most widespread surnames derived from a trade name. In the United States, Schmitt was carried by German immigrants and their descendants, helping establish it as a familiar American surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same basic surname meaning “smith” shows up in several languages, including German Schmitt, Dutch Smit, and English Smith.
From the historical record
“SCHMIDT \ (Ger.) Smith [Ger. schmied (Low SCHMITT/Ger. ««iY;, MJH.Ger. smid, smit, O.H.Ger. smid, smith] SCHNEIDER (Ger.) Tailor, Cutter [f. Ger. schneiden, M.H.Ger. sniden, O.H.Ger.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)