Surname Schahn - Meaning and Origin

Schahn: What does the surname Schahn mean?

The last name Schahn is a German surname. It originated from the Middle High German term, “schah,” which means “sovereign rule.” It has also been known as von Schahn or von Schahns in other forms. The name was most likely given to someone who held a position of authority in their local area, quite likely an administrative role.

The Schahn name is a popular one in Germany, having a rate of approximately 1 in 1,200 people, meaning about 110,000 people have the surname. It may also be found in the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, and other countries which border Germany.

This name is commonly chosen by people of Germanic descent who are looking to pay homage to their heritage, as well as reflect the independence and authority associated with the name. It is also chosen by those who appreciate the heritage behind the name, as it holds the value of someone who was likely respected in their native region.

The last name Schahn is associated with a long history of sovereignty, authority, and power in many countries. It is a symbol of appreciation and respect for those leaders who have come before us, and will continue to be passed down from one generation to the next.

Schahn: Where does the name Schahn come from?

The last name Schahn is most commonly found as a surname in Germany and other parts of Central Europe. It is especially common in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria in Germany, as well as in the countries of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. According to the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Schahn is derived from the Old German surname Schah, which means "nobleman."

The surname is also found in other countries due to immigration from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. It can be found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, and many countries in South America.

Today, there are thousands of people with the last name Schahn in Germany, as well as hundreds to thousands in other countries around the world. The surname is also growing in popularity in Germany, as it is one of the more common surnames in the country.

Variations of the surname Schahn

The surname Schahn is an old German surname, variation of Schan, which originated from the Middle High German element Schan meaning edge or rim. It is a variant of and was interchangeable with Shahn, Shaen, Shawen, Schawen, Schawn, Schne, Shoun, Shade, Schaid, Schaide, Scheide, Sheide, and Szabo.

The variant Schan is common in Germany, Austria, and among Germanic and Slavic immigrants in the US. It was often spelled Schahn or Shahn in German records prior to the mid 19th century.

Schahn is also occasionally used as a Jewish surname within Germany. There is speculation that it may have originated as an abbreviation of the Jewish surnames Grünschwanz or Bernstein, as they were derived from birds with green or golden tails.

The further variants of Schahn include Schean, Schein, Scheen, Shoen, Shen, Sehn, Shain, and Sahn. These variants are found mostly in Slavic countries, such as Ukraine and Russia, as well as in eastern and central Europe.

Most non-Jewish spelling variants are derived from Shahn in Yiddish and Schein in German. There are also a handful of Jewish-related variants related to Schahn, including Sheyn, Shen, Schoen, Schon, Schna, Schin, Schonin, Scheinhaut, Shoen, and Shoyn.

The surname is also found in Scandinavia and Great Britain, though other variant spellings such as Schon, Schna, Schin, Sehn, and Schoehn are much more common there.

The surname is also common in Hungary, where it served as a middle name in the 19th century and is found in combination with various Schein suffixes such as Scheininger, Scheindler, and Scheiner. It is also found in Serbia and Croatia, where it is spelled Szabo.

Famous people with the name Schahn

• Jason Schahn: American professional soccer player.
• Karen Schahn: captain of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.
• Claire Schahn: former Swiss high jumper and Olympic medalist.
• Robert Schahn: German politician and watchmaker.
• Werner Schahn: former German long-distance runner and double Olympic Silver medalist.
• Heinz Schahn: Eminent German businessman and former Siemens chairman
• Michael Schahn: American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Mikey Schahn.
• Robert Schahn: German physicist and electrical engineer.
• Christian Schahn: German professional tennis player.
• Arne Schahn: Swedish professional ice-hockey player.
• David Schahn: Austrian composer of classical music.
• Jimmy Schahn: German former professional beach volleyball player.
• Bernhard Schahn: Swedish chess grandmaster.
• Kaspar Schahn: German physician and botanist.
• Louis Schahn: American hockey coach.
• Marc Schahn: German music producer, DJ, and record label owner.
• Ulrich Schahn: former German handball player and coach.
• Anita Schahn: German opera singer.
• Elsbeth Schahn: German politician and AI expert.
• Paul Schahn: German political strategist and consultant.

Other surnames

SchaheSchahl