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

Schmuck, 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 Schmuck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schmuck in America

Schmuck is the 17202nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schmuck surname appeared 1,646 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Schmuck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schmuck 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 Schmuck

The surname "SCHMUCK" originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "smucken," which means "to adorn" or "to decorate." The name was likely given to individuals who worked as jewelers, goldsmiths, or other craftsmen involved in the production of decorative items.

The earliest recorded instance of the name "SCHMUCK" appears in the Heidelberg Census of 1384, where it is listed as "Schmucke." This suggests that the name was already in use in the region during that time period. It is believed that the name may have originated in the southern German regions, particularly in areas like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

In the 15th century, the name "SCHMUCK" can be found in various historical records, such as the Nuremberg Burgher Book, which documented the names of citizens in the city of Nuremberg. One notable individual with this surname was Hans Schmuck, a master goldsmith who lived in Nuremberg in the late 15th century and was renowned for his intricate metalwork.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name "SCHMUCK" spread to other parts of Germany and neighboring regions. In 1612, a document from the city of Leipzig mentions a certain Johann Schmuck, a merchant and trader in precious stones. Another prominent figure with this surname was Peter Schmuck, a Lutheran theologian and author who lived in the late 17th century and published several works on religious subjects.

As German immigrants began to settle in other parts of Europe and the Americas, the surname "SCHMUCK" traveled with them. In the 18th century, there are records of individuals with this name in areas such as Alsace, France, and parts of Switzerland. One notable individual from this period was Johann Michael Schmuck, a renowned clockmaker and inventor from the town of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, who lived from 1701 to 1767.

By the 19th century, the surname "SCHMUCK" had spread to various parts of the world, including the United States and other countries with significant German immigrant populations. One notable American with this surname was Charles Schmuck, a Civil War veteran and businessman from Pennsylvania, who lived from 1841 to 1922.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schmuck

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

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 Schmuck 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 Schmuck 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 Schmuck was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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