Show ContentsSchlag History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Saxony, one of the oldest and most beautiful regions of Germany, is the esteemed birthplace of the Schlag family. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. This happened later in Germany than in most other European countries and surnames were not introduced in the German duchies until after the 12th century. The manner in which Schlag became a hereditary surname is extremely interesting because it was initially a name of an occupation. Occupational surnames date back to the feudal era. However, under the Feudal System, occupational names did not become hereditary until the offices themselves became hereditary. It was only after an occupation was inherited by several generations in lineal descent, that occupational names came to be applied to entire families, and so became hereditary surnames.

Early Origins of the Schlag family

The surname Schlag was first found in the Anhalt region of ancient Saxony, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a major contributor to the political development of the nation. Chronicles first mention Wolbero Slegel of Cologne in 1142, and the knight Herman Slegel of Bavaria in 1309.

Early History of the Schlag family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schlag research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1719, 1749, 1767, 1821, 1845 and 1868 are included under the topic Early Schlag History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schlag Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Schlegel, Schlegell, Schlegele, Slegel and others.

Early Notables of the Schlag family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schlag Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Schlag migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schlag Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Schlag, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1800 1
  • Johannes Schlag, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 1
  • Marian Schlag, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 1
  • Barthel Schlag, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 1
  • Georg Friedrich Schlag, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Schlag Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Emelie Schlag, who landed in New York, NY in 1903 1
  • Dorothea Schlag, aged 33, who landed in New York, NY in 1903 1
  • Adolf Schlag, aged 7, who arrived in New York, NY in 1903 1
  • Anna Schlag, aged 4, who landed in New York, NY in 1903 1
  • Johann Schlag, aged 9, who landed in New York, NY in 1903 1


  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)


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