Surname Schadek - Meaning and Origin
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Schadek: What does the surname Schadek mean?
The last name Schadek is a German surname, which is derived from the German word ‘schad’, meaning ‘distress’, or ‘harm’. This can be interpreted in two ways; the most common interpretation is ‘one who is harmed or distressed’, although some believe the surname to signify a protective individual, as the literal translation of Schadek is ‘shield guard’.
The Schadek family tree branches out from various German regions, including Silesia and Prussia. It is likely the family descended from early tribes of Central and Eastern Europe, covering areas such as Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Poland. As such, the family has a long and varied history that spread throughout the German-speaking regions.
The surname Schadek is still in use today, although it is quite rare. It is estimated that only around 180 individuals bear the name, if one discounts variant spellings such as Scheedecke and Schadack. In recent years, the name has mainly been found in Germany, however, it has also cropped up in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Spain.
Ultimately, the last name Schadek is traced back centuries, to the tumultuous times of early German-speaking Europeans. It has stood the test of time and continues to be borne by a few families today.
Order DNA origin analysisSchadek: Where does the name Schadek come from?
The last name Schadek is most common in Central Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Data from AncestryDNA shows that the surname has its highest frequency in the former German Democratic Republic (DDR). In Germany, the name is most prevalent in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony.
In Austria, the name is found mostly in Lower Austria and Vienna, and in Switzerland, it is most common in Zurich and Geneva. In the United States, the last name is sparsely scattered across the entire country, from California, Florida, and Arizona in the west to Connecticut, Ohio, and New York in the east. The highest concentration of people with the Schadek surname is found in the metropolitan area of Chicago, Illinois.
Schadek is also quite common in other parts of the world such as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, and Russia. In Russia, the Schadek surname is found mostly in larger Russian cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as several other locations throughout the country.
Overall, even though the exact origin of the Schadek surname is unknown, its current distribution shows that it has a wide global reach.
Variations of the surname Schadek
The variations, spellings, and surnames of Schadek originate from German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Variations of the name include the German Schadeck, the Hungarian Sadek, Schadak, Schaadeck, Schadak, the Czech Šadek, Šaadek, and Šadak, and the Slovak Šádek, Šádák, Šaddek, and Šaddák.
Historically, surnames derived from a variety of sources. Schadek is of local origin, being derived from a place or geographical feature of where an individual once lived or held land. It is believed that there are two surnames derived from this one source - Schadek and Schadak. These surnames originated from the mountainous region of what was known as Hirschberg in Western Silesia.
The suffix of Schadek or Schadak indicates that its original bearer belonged to the noble class of feudal society. 'Deck' is a Germanic term signifying a low fortress or boundary. 'Schad' is a Germanic term meaning 'shield'. Hence, the name implies that the original bearer once lived in a secure fortress and used a shield for protection.
The origin of Schadek is generally associated with the German language and it is believed that the original bearer and their ancestors may have lived near the Hirschberg region of Germany or its surrounding areas. It is also possible that the origin of this surname could have been derived from other geographical regions or languages, given the variations and variations in spelling.
Famous people with the name Schadek
- Karlheinz Schadek: he is a German actor, screenwriter and film director.
- Michael Schadek: he is an Austrian actor.
- Christina Schadek: she is a German fashion journalist and model.
- Franz Schadek: he is an Austrian politician currently working as a member of the Green Party of Austria.
- William Schadek: he is an American musician and bass guitar player in the rock band "Public Image Ltd".
- Mark Schadek: he is an American photographer, digital artist and filmmaker.
- Rose Schadek: she is an American medical doctor and campaigner for reproductive rights.
- David Schadek: he is a German-born Canadian Olympic water polo player.
- Erich Schadek: he was a German general in World War I.
- Elisabeth Schadek: she is a German academic and journalist from Hamburg.