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

Shomber, 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 Shomber surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Shomber in America

Shomber is the 140756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shomber surname appeared 109 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Shomber.

The history of the last name Shomber

The surname Shomber is believed to have originated in the regions of Central Europe, with particular ties to Germany and nearby areas. Around the late Medieval period, specifically the 14th and 15th centuries, surnames across Europe were often derived from occupations, geographical features, and personal characteristics. Shomber falls into this category, with possible ties to the Old High German word "schomer," meaning guardian or watchman, pointing to an occupational origin. Variants and similar spellings such as Schäumer, Schomer, or Schoomer were common as regional dialects and spelling conventions varied significantly during this period.

One early record of the surname appears in the German state of Bavaria in the 15th century, where a Hans Schomer is mentioned in a tax registry dated 1498. This registry notes individuals by occupation and residence, indicating that Hans Schomer was likely a townsman of some standing, possibly a local official or guard. Other historical mentions can be found in various local German manuscripts, often detailing transactions or legal matters involving individuals with the surname.

A significant early mention is Konrad Schomber, a 16th-century notary whose signature appears in several legal documents from 1542 in the region of Swabia. His role in local governance and legal matters hints at a family tradition of public service. The name also appears in ecclesiastical records: in a church chronicle from 1603 in the Rhineland, the baptism of a Johannes Schomber is documented. This supports the idea that the name was relatively widespread in German-speaking regions by the early modern period.

During the late 17th century, the name appears in Prussian military records, most notably a record from 1689 listing Dietrich Shomber, serving as a junior officer. His name appears again in subsequent military dispatches, indicating a career that spanned several decades, likely through the wars of succession that characterized that period in European history.

In the 18th century, the name crossed the Atlantic with waves of German immigration to North America. One of the early recorded immigrants was Wilhelm Shomber, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752. Wilhelm’s family name is preserved through multiple generations, with descendants who fought in the American Revolutionary War, thus embedding the name into the early fabric of American history.

Throughout history, the Shomber surname has been associated with various noteworthy individuals. One particularly notable figure was Karl Shomber, a 19th-century industrialist born in 1834, who was instrumental in advancing the steel industry in the Ruhr region. His industrial success and philanthropy earned him recognition and respect.

The surname Shomber, with its historical roots deeply embedded in Central European occupational or place-based naming customs, demonstrates a rich legacy marked by a blend of public service, military involvement, and migration. Tracing its etymological and historical journey reveals the enduring nature of family lineage amidst the nuanced transformations of European and American societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shomber

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Shomber 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.

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

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

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