Surname Schulmeister - Meaning and Origin

Schulmeister: What does the surname Schulmeister mean?

The last name Schulmeister is a German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word “schulmeister”, meaning "schoolmaster." This occupational name was given to individuals who worked as a qualified educator in a school setting. The occupational name eventually evolved to become a hereditary surname, meaning that the same family would be given the name generation after generation.

The Schulmeister surname emerged in the late medieval period in Germany, when it became necessary to distinguish between individuals’ occupational backgrounds. It was more common for hereditary surnames to be formed in this way than “house names”, which indicate residence.

By the 18th century, the occupational surname Schulmeister could be found mainly in the Rhineland region of Germany, where it was often used for school teachers and university professors. The Schulmeister family is historically associated with the region of West Germany, especially the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony.

The Schulmeister surname remains a distinguished family name and symbol of educational achievement to this day. The modern-day Schulmeister family continues to live in the Rhineland region of Germany, making them descendants of the founding fathers of the multi-generational Schulmeister name.

Schulmeister: Where does the name Schulmeister come from?

The last name Schulmeister is most commonly found today in Germany, where it first originated. It is also found in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. The surname is also common among German- and Jewish-Americans, as many Germans emigrated to the United States in the 1800s and early 1900s. Though not as common today, Schulmeister is still one of the most popular surnames in Germany, with roughly 12,000 people sharing the surname in 2019.

The meaning of Schulmeister can be broken down into two parts, the German words "schul" and "meister." It translates to "school master," and was originally most likely worn by a school teacher or leader of the local school system. It can still be used today to describe a person in a similar position.

Over time, the surname has evolved to include multiple spellings, including Schlummeister, Schulmeitser, and Shulmeister. It can also be found in America as either Shulmeister or Shulmistress, depending on the gender of its holder.

Though the frequency of the Schulmeister surname has declined since its peak in the 1800s, it remains an interesting part of Germany's history and can still be found in many countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Schulmeister

The surname Schulmeister is one of many German surnames that is derived from an occupation or profession. Schulmeister is an occupational name typically given to a teacher or a school headmaster and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘schūlemeister’ meaning a teacher or master of a school.

Variants of the surname Schulmeister include Schulmayer, Schulmeier, Schulmaier, Schulmeister, Schulmeyster, Schulmeesters, and Schullmeister.

Schulmeister is an extremely common surname within Germany and the country boasts thousands of bearers of the name. Some versions of the family name are more widely used in certain areas of the country than others.

In addition to the German variants, the name Schulmeister has many alternate spellings. In some cases, the spelling was altered as it moved from one region to another or as people moved to other countries. These include Schammelster, Schaalmeester, Schalmaeister, Schindmeister, Schoonmeester, Schoormeister, Schuelmeister, Schulenmeester, Schursmeester, Schurmeister, and Schurzmeister.

The surname Schulmeister is also found in many other countries due to immigration, most notably the United States and Canada. In some cases, the spelling of the name has been changed to Schaulmeister or Shulmeister. Alternative surnames related to Schulmeister that can be found in other countries outside of Germany include Schemel, Schimmel, Scholma, Schulman, and Schollmeyer.

Famous people with the name Schulmeister

• Ernst Schulmeister (1900-1974), Austrian landscape painter
• Gunther Schulmeister (1927–2013), German lawyer and politician
• Arturo Schulmeister (1912-1992), Argentine educator and chess master
• Susana Schulmeister (Born 1954), Argentine political scientist and historian
• Richard Schulmeister (1930-2007), American physicist and engineer
• Vasco Schulmeister (1927–2016), Brazilian mechanical engineer
• Franz Schulmeister (1909–1982), Austrian resistance fighter
• Max Schulmeister (1888-1970), Swiss tennis player
• George Schulmeister (1914-2011), Austrian figure skating champion
• Theodor Schulmeister (1856–1937), German botanist and geographer

Other surnames

Schulmeisters