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

Schwertfeger, 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 Schwertfeger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schwertfeger in America

Schwertfeger is the 39281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schwertfeger surname appeared 560 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 Schwertfeger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schwertfeger 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 Schwertfeger

The surname Schwertfeger originates from the German language and has its roots in the Middle Ages. It is an occupational name, derived from the German words "Schwert" meaning sword and "Feger" meaning polisher or furbisher. The name refers to a person who polished or sharpened swords, knives, and other blades for a living.

The earliest known record of the Schwertfeger name dates back to the 14th century in the region of Saxony, Germany. In the year 1376, a document from the town of Zwickau mentions a man named Hans Schwertfeger, who was a member of the local guild of sword polishers.

During the medieval period, the Schwertfeger name was particularly prominent in the city of Nuremberg, which was renowned for its skilled metalworkers and blade smiths. The Schwertfeger family played an important role in the city's renowned sword-making industry.

One notable Schwertfeger from this era was Johann Schwertfeger, who lived in Nuremberg in the late 15th century and was a master sword polisher. His intricate and beautifully polished swords were highly sought after by noblemen and knights across Europe.

Another prominent Schwertfeger was Matthias Schwertfeger, a 16th-century sword polisher from the town of Solingen, which was another important center for blade-making in Germany. Matthias Schwertfeger's works were renowned for their exceptional quality and were prized by collectors and connoisseurs.

In the 17th century, the Schwertfeger name appeared in the records of the city of Dresden, where a family of sword polishers had established a successful business. One of their descendants, Friedrich Schwertfeger, born in 1682, was a renowned master craftsman who trained many apprentices in the art of sword polishing.

Outside of Germany, the Schwertfeger name can also be found in other parts of Europe, particularly in regions with a strong tradition of metalworking and blade-making. For instance, in the 18th century, there was a notable Schwertfeger family in the city of Toledo, Spain, which was renowned for its skilled sword-makers.

Overall, the surname Schwertfeger has a rich history rooted in the medieval craft of sword polishing and blade-making, particularly in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is a testament to the importance of skilled metalworkers and artisans in the cultural and economic fabric of these regions throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schwertfeger

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

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

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

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