Show ContentsSchellenberg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Schellenberg is a Westphalian-German nickname. Such surnames were very common in Westphalia. They were adapted from traditional eke-names, or added names, that described physical characteristics of their bearers. Schellenberg is a hereditary surname for a person who was either wild or clamorous. The name was originally derived from the German word "schel," which means "noisy" or "loud."

Early Origins of the Schellenberg family

The surname Schellenberg was first found in Westphalia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the German nation. As early as 1526 they had their seat at the manor Schellenberg near Essen.

Early History of the Schellenberg family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schellenberg research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1562, 1620, 1648, 1680, 1701, 1763, 1774, 1775, 1808, 1809 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Schellenberg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schellenberg Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Schellenberg include Schell, Schelle, Schelling, Scheller and others.

Early Notables of the Schellenberg family

Notables of the period with the name Schellenberg were Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (ca. 1620-1680), an Austrian composer and violinist ; Johann Schelle (1648-1701), a German Baroque composer; Friedrich Wilhelm von Schelling (1775-1854, ennobled...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schellenberg Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Schellenberg migration to the United States +

Many Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them:

Schellenberg Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Martin Schellenberg, who landed in Carolina in 1734 1
  • Ursula Schellenberg, who arrived in Carolina in 1734 1
  • Verena Bentz Schellenberg, aged 19, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1735 1
  • Heinrich Schellenberg, who arrived in Carolina in 1738 1
  • Henrich Schellenberg, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Schellenberg Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M Elis Schellenberg, who arrived in America in 1845 1

Canada Schellenberg migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schellenberg Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Gehrhard Schellenberg, who landed in Manitoba in 1874
  • Jacob Schellenberg, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
  • Johann Schellenberg, who landed in Manitoba in 1875
  • Abraham Schellenberg, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
  • David Schellenberg, who landed in Manitoba in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Schellenberg (post 1700) +

  • John C. Schellenberg, American politician, Village President of Roselle, Illinois, 1935-38 2
  • F. F. Schellenberg, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1916 2
  • Tobias Schellenberg (b. 1978), German gold, silver and bronze competitive and synchronized diver
  • Glenn Schellenberg, Canadian Genie nominated composer
  • Ted William Schellenberg (b. 1952), Canadian politician, former Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons
  • August Schellenberg (b. 1936), Canadian actor
  • Johann Rudolph Schellenberg (1740-1806), Swiss Artist, writer, botanist and entomologist


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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