Find out how popular the last name Schmit is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Schmit.

Schmit, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Schmit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schmit in America

Schmit is the 6438th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schmit surname appeared 5,274 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Schmit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schmit to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Schmit

The surname SCHMIT is of German origin and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the German word "Schmied," which means "blacksmith." The name was initially given as an occupational surname to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or metal workers.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. The spelling variations included Schmit, Schmitt, Schmid, and Schmitz, among others.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae," a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. The name is mentioned in connection with a blacksmith named Johannes Schmit from the town of Meissen.

In the 14th century, the name SCHMIT appeared in the "Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis," a compilation of official records from the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This document mentions a certain Henricus Schmit, a blacksmith from the city of Berlin.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname SCHMIT. One of the earliest was Hans Schmit (1435-1501), a renowned German goldsmith and metalworker from Nuremberg, who was renowned for his intricate and exquisite works of art.

Another prominent figure was Johann Schmit (1592-1658), a German philosopher and theologian from Strasbourg, who wrote extensively on ethics and moral philosophy. His works, such as "Ethica Christiana," had a significant influence on the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 19th century, Carl Schmit (1804-1875) was a German-American engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines. He held several patents and his innovations helped pave the way for the Industrial Revolution.

Marie Schmit (1856-1933) was a French painter and sculptor, known for her impressionistic landscapes and portraiture. Her works were exhibited in prestigious galleries across Europe and are now housed in various museums.

Finally, Otto Schmit (1912-1998) was a German-American aerospace engineer who played a crucial role in the development of modern aircraft and spacecraft structures. His pioneering work on structural analysis and lightweight design principles influenced the aerospace industry for decades.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schmit

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Schmit.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Schmit was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Schmit has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Schmit was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Schmit, please contact us.

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