Surname Krätzschmann - Meaning and Origin
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Krätzschmann: What does the surname Krätzschmann mean?
The last name Krätzschmann is a German surname, meaning “small head” or “small-headed one”. It is derived from the Middle German word Krätze, meaning “small head”, which is a patronymic referring to an ancestor with a small head.
The name is likely a descriptive name that was used to distinguish a person from those with larger heads, as Krätze is also a German word meaning “dwarf” or “midget”. It can also be seen as an occupational name, given to someone who worked in a profession associated with people of small stature, such as making clothes for dolls or other small figures.
Krätzschmann is a common German name, with records of its use dating back to at least the late 18th century in the area of the former German Empire. It is still found today as a family name throughout Germany, with many Krätzschmanns going on to become successful entrepreneurs, politicians, engineers, and other successful professionals.
The German surname Krätzschmann is a unique name with a fascinating story behind it. It is an interesting reminder of the history of the German people and the creativity which often lies behind surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisKrätzschmann: Where does the name Krätzschmann come from?
The last name Krätzschmann is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a German surname derived from the Middle High German words "krāze" meaning "crow" or "raven" and "schmāne" meaning "orchardworker". It was likely used as a nickname or a descriptor for someone who made their living growing fruit.
The incidence of the surname Krätzschmann is higher in the south-west region of Germany, especially in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The towns of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Weeze, Boppard and Bad Honnef all have a higher incidence of the last name Krätzschmann.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, some families bearing the last name Krätzschmann emigrated to the United States, Canada and other countries from Germany. These days, the surname Krätzschmann can also be found in many other countries outside of Germany, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Italy and Thailand.
On the website ‘Rootsweb’, a genealogy database, it is possible to search for the surname Krätzschmann and find records throughout history. The results page offers many records from multiple countries. For instance, Birth records, marriage records and death records can be found in Germany, France, the United States and in other countries where the surname is found.
Overall, the last name Krätzschmann is most commonly found in Germany today, but can also be found in many other countries throughout the world as a result of the migration of the Krätzschmann families in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Variations of the surname Krätzschmann
Krätzschmann is an old Germanic surname originating from the word ‘kratz’ meaning ‘scratch’ or ‘skin’, indicating a family tradition of tanning hides. Common variants of the name include Kraetzschmann, Kraetzschmar, Krätzschmar, Krätzschmer, Krätzschmer, Kraetschmann, Kraetschmar, Kraetzschman, Kraetzman, Kretschman, Kretschmar, Kretschmann, Kretschmer and Kretschmarr.
The various spellings of the surname likely first arose during a time when most records were kept by hand and local dialects had a broad influence on pronunciation and the written form of the surname. While the various spellings of the name are not seen as spelling mistakes today, at the time they were likely down to the different ways of transcribing names into the local dialect. In the preceding centuries, the surname was likely spread due to hereditary professions such as butchers, gamekeepers and other occupations related to leather and hide, leading people to move around to pursue various jobs.
The different spellings of the surname can still be found in German-speaking countries, although there has been an overall trend of people moving away from the name over time. In more recent times, immigrants of the Krätzschmann family have adopted surnames of other origins to avoid discrimination or confusion.
Today, the surname Krätzschmann is not very common and is mostly found amongst old families of German origin.
Famous people with the name Krätzschmann
- Ernst Krätzschmann (1910-1985), German paleontologist.
- Johannes Krätzschmann (1876-1945), German mycologist.
- Max Krätzschmann (1942-), German film director, television and radio host, and producer.
- Joseph Krätzschmann (1899-1964), German chess master. 5.Ludwig Krätzschmann (1882-1941), German parser geographer.
- Karl Krätzschmann (1885-1970), German geographer and glaciologist.
- Friedrich Krätzschmann (1899-1983), German politician and writer.
- Carl Friedrich Krätzschmann (1836-1920), German forester and explorer.
- Gottlieb Friedrich Krätzschmann (1830-1899), German painter and art professor.
- Hans Glück Krätzschmann (1907-1977), German lawyer and plenipotentiary of the Federal Ministry for Internal Affairs.