Schumaker
A German occupational surname for a shoemaker.
The #9,199 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 87,093 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Schumaker is a spelling variant of the German occupational surname Schuhmacher, from Middle High German "schuoch" meaning "shoe" and "macher" meaning "maker." The literal sense is "shoe maker," i.e. a shoemaker. The surname arose independently for people identified by that craft.
History
The name spread through German-speaking areas and later into North America with German immigration. In English-language records, the spelling was often simplified or altered to fit local pronunciation, producing forms such as Schumaker, Schumacher, and Shoemaker. The occupational meaning remained transparent enough that the surname was easy to recognize and adapt.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Schumaker is one of several surnames where the English meaning is still obvious: it literally names the job its earliest bearers likely held.