Find out how popular the last name Schmutz is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Schmutz.
A German surname meaning "dirt" or "grime", derived from an occupational term.
Schmutz, 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 Schmutz surname is from the 2010 census data.
Schmutz is the 30538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Schmutz surname appeared 764 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Schmutz.
We can also compare 2010 data for Schmutz 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 30538 | 26104 | 15.66% |
Count | 764 | 882 | -14.34% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.33 | -23.73% |
The surname "SCHMUTZ" originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, particularly in Germany and Switzerland, during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Schmutz," which means "dirt" or "filth." This surname likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who worked in a dirty or unclean occupation, such as a chimney sweep or a tanner.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SCHMUTZ" can be found in the German city of Nuremberg in the 14th century. A document dated 1367 mentions a certain "Hans Schmutz," who was a tanner by trade. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname by that time.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in various parts of Switzerland, where it was often spelled as "Schmutzer" or "Schmutzer." One notable bearer of this surname was Johann Schmutzer (1490-1564), a Swiss Reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname "SCHMUTZ" spread to other German-speaking regions, including Austria and parts of what is now France and Italy. In these areas, the name was sometimes spelled as "Schmutz" or "Schmutzer."
One of the most famous bearers of the "SCHMUTZ" surname was Jakob Christoph Schmutzer (1718-1789), an Austrian engraver and printmaker who was renowned for his intricate copperplate engravings. His works were highly sought after by art collectors and served as important historical records of his time.
Another notable individual with the surname "SCHMUTZ" was Johann Adam Schmutzer (1683-1742), a German-born Jesuit missionary who traveled to China in the early 18th century. He is known for his contributions to the study of Chinese languages and culture, as well as his efforts in promoting cultural exchange between Europe and China.
In the 19th century, the surname "SCHMUTZ" spread further with the migration of German-speaking populations to other parts of the world, including North America and South America. One example is Johann Georg Schmutz (1816-1892), a German-born immigrant to the United States who became a prominent farmer and landowner in Pennsylvania.
While the surname "SCHMUTZ" has its origins in a descriptive nickname related to dirt or filth, its bearers have contributed significantly to various fields throughout history, from religion and art to exploration and agriculture. Despite its humble beginnings, the name has developed a rich history and has been carried by notable individuals across several centuries.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Schmutz.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Schmutz was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 97.51% | 745 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 1.05% | 8 |
Hispanic Origin | 0.92% | 7 |
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 Schmutz has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 97.51% | 97.17% | 0.35% |
Black | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
Two or More Races | 1.05% | 1.13% | -7.34% |
Hispanic | 0.92% | 1.59% | -53.39% |
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 Schmutz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Schmutz, please contact us.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/schmutz-surname-popularity/">Schmutz last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Schmutz last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/schmutz-surname-popularity/.
"Schmutz last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/schmutz-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 August, 2025
Schmutz last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/schmutz-surname-popularity/.
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