Surname Ziegelschmied - Meaning and Origin

Ziegelschmied: What does the surname Ziegelschmied mean?

The last name Ziegelschmied is a German name that is derived from the noun “Ziegel” and the verb “schmieden”, meaning “brick” and “to forge” respectively. It can be translated to mean “brickmaker” or “brick smith” in English.

The Ziegelschmied last name likely originated in Germany as a occupational surname for a brick-making craftsman. Bricks were a main component of early German architecture, and were used to build homes, churches, and buildings. To create bricks, clay was needed and it was up to brickmakers to craft the image through the use of molds.

This occupation was so important in the German culture that the surname was officially registered in the 11th century. Ziegelschmied later spread around Germany and further abroad to other countries such as Austria and the United States. The name can be found in records in Germany dating back to as early as the 15th century.

The Ziegelschmied name can also denote a family whose ancestor’s trade was brickmaking or a person who owned a brick factory. In some cases, it can also signify someone who worked with bricks. To this day, the name is still quite common in Germany, Austria, and parts of the United States.

Ziegelschmied: Where does the name Ziegelschmied come from?

The last name Ziegelschmied is most common in Germany and Austria, and can be found in their historical records dating back centuries. The name originated from the medieval occupation of Ziegelschmiede, a man who produced roofing tiles for a living. This occupation was common until the industrialization of Europe in the 1800s.

Today, the surname Ziegelschmied can be found throughout Germany and Austria, especially in Bavaria. It has also spread to other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, as well as to the Americas, where it is most common in the United States and Canada. It is especially found in parts of the Midwest, where German and Austrian immigrants settled in the 1800s and early 1900s.

The surname Ziegelschmied can also be found among the German-speaking communities of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In Australia, there are a number of towns and suburbs named after the words Ziegelschmied.

The last name Ziegelschmied is also relatively common in North America and Australia, where it is often Anglicized as Smith, or sometimes translated in a slightly different way. It is also spelt in different variations such as Zieglschmied, Ziegelschmeid, and Ziegerschmidt.

Variations of the surname Ziegelschmied

The surname Ziegelschmied is a German toponymic name derived from the Middle High German ‘siegel’, meaning tile. Those bearing the surname may also spelled the name in several different ways, including Zegelschmied, ZEGELSCHMIED, Zegeler, ZEIGELER, Ziegler, Zigeler, ZIGLER, Ziegelmaier, ZEGELMAIER, and Ziegelmeier.

In addition, variations on the spelling have been seen in other countries, such as Zhigal'shmith in Lithuania, Zegeler in Austria, and Tsihal'shmits in Belarus.

The surname is likely a result of a hereditary occupation, in which the family owned and operated a tile or brick kiln in their own name. This family of craftsmen were most likely well-known and respected in their community, and as such, they passed down the Ziegelschmied name from one generation to the next.

It is also possible that the family of Ziegelschmied had the same occupational trade in different European countries, sometimes arriving through mass migrations that occurred in the 1800s.

The surname Ziegelschmied is a distinct name among Europeans, and it is rare outside of Germany today. As such, it is a great reminder of the family's wealth of heritage and history.

Famous people with the name Ziegelschmied

• Franz Ziegelschmied: 18th-century Bavarian sculptor and cartographer
• Karl Ziegelschmied: 16th-century Bavarian engraver
• Ernst Ziegelschmied: early 20th-century German physicist
• Thomas Ziegelschmied: 18th-century German copper-plate engraver
• Johann Ziegelschmied: 18th-century German historian
• Walther Ziegelschmied: 17th-century German theologian
• Lothar Ziegelschmied: 19th-century German potter
• Maximilian Ziegelschmied: 16th-century German copper-plate etcher
• Johann Georg Ziegelschmied: 18th-century Prussian painter
• Carlos Ziegelschmied: 20th-century Spanish writer
• Andreas Ziegelschmied: 16th-century German engraver
• Ignaz Ziegelschmied: 18th-century Bavarian sculptor
• Georg Ziegelschmied: 19th-century German astronomer
• William Ziegelschmied: 17th-century German author

Other surnames

ZiegelschmidZiegelschmidt