Surname Schädlich - Meaning and Origin
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read moreSchädlich: What does the surname Schädlich mean?
The last name Schädlich is a German surname that means "harmful," "dangerous," or "destructive." It likely originated from an occupational surname and may have originally referred to someone who created dangerous objects or worked with hazardous materials. Alternatively, it could have referred to someone who performed dangerous tasks or lived a potentially hazardous lifestyle. Schädlich is also a French surname that holds the same meaning.
The Schädlich surname is more common in the German-speaking parts of Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also common in some of the German-influenced areas of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The surname is relatively rare in other parts of the world, although there are some occurrences in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
Overall, the name Schädlich is an intriguing choice for a family name because of its strong connotation. Whoever carried the Schädlich surname in the past likely needed to confront and survive dangerous situations, proving their dedication to the family's mission and principles.
Order DNA origin analysisSchädlich: Where does the name Schädlich come from?
The last name Schädlich is common mainly in eastern Germany today, with an especially high concentration of the name in the northern Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt regions. The Schädlich surname likely began as a patronymic name - derived from the personal name Schädle, or in English, Shaw. Patronymic names were used as surnames across Germany in earlier times, signifying familial relationships.
The name Schädlich was relatively uncommon prior to the 19th century, but the population of eastern Germany was expanding and with it, so too did this surname. By the 1800s, the Schädlich name had spread from its original NewMarch region to all across eastern Germany as the population of this formerly rural region exploded.
Today, the highest numbers of people with this surname are found in the major cities of Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig. There are also some scattered clusters of Schädlichs in Germany's smaller towns and villages, as well as in Austria and the mitniederlanden. However, the name's highest concentrations remain in the eastern German states, namely Brandenburg, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
The Schädlich surname is much less common outside of Germany and the wider German-speaking communities. Nevertheless, some people of German descent living in other countries may be carrying this last name, as some families bear last names based on their ancestral heritage.
Variations of the surname Schädlich
The surname Schädlich has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Schaedlich, Schädlich, Shaedlich, Shädlich, Schaedlich, Schadlich, Shadlich, Schoedel, Schoedl, Schoedel, Schoedtle, Schuetle, and Schuetl.
The German word “schädlich” means “dangerous”, “damaging” or “harmful”, and it is thought that the family name derived from this word. “Schädlich” was likely used to refer to someone who was seen as difficult or troublesome, and this association may have led to families with this name being treated with suspicion.
The surnames Schoedel and Schoedl are a variant on the name Schädlich. The German word for skull is “Schoede” and the name “Schoedel” is derived from it. In some parts of Germany, this name was primarily used as a nickname for someone with a particularly stern character.
The German words “Schuetle” and “Schuetl” are the base of the spellings Schuetle and Schuetl, and they refer to someone who is small in stature. This may have been an additional nickname for someone with a smaller physical build.
Although the surname Schädlich has a few variants and spellings, it’s clear that the origin of the name is from the German word “schädlich”, meaning “dangerous”, “damaging”, or “harmful”.
Famous people with the name Schädlich
- Martin Schädlich: a German writer and songwriter, winner of the 2019 Grosse Literaturpreis and 2019 Friedrich Glauser Prize.
- Jan Schädlich: a German former professional footballer who played as a forward, appearing in 28 matches for the German national team from 1992 to 2001.
- Anja Schädlich: a German former professional tennis player who reached her career-high ranking of No. 9 in the world in 1976.
- Sigrid Schädlich: a German actress who appeared in the films Das Wunder von Lengede, Mädchen, Mädchen, and TKKG: Der Club der Detektive.
- Bernd Schädlich: a German retired professional footballer who played as a defender and made appearances in the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, and UEFA Cup.
- Lutz Schädlich: a German actor, director, writer and author, known for his performances in the films Was ist bloß aus Dir geworden?, Die putschistischen Jahre, and The Red Baron.
- Konstantin Schädlich: a German composer, educator, and the artistic director of the Institut für Klangkunst (IFK) in Berlin.
- Lucas Schädlich: a German professional tennis player who is the youngest player to ever win a Challenger Tour event at the age of 17.
- Johannes Schädlich: a German former physicist, professor, author, and political activist, best known for his involvement in the German Social Democratic Party (SPD).
- Reinhard Schädlich: a German former football player, and the current manager of FC Ingolstadt.