Contents [hide]

Schmitt History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Schmitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Early Origins of the Schmitt family

The surname Schmitt was first found in the northern provinces that were later to make up Prussia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region.

Early History of the Schmitt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schmitt research. Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1537, 1564, 1618, 1630, 1648, 1708, 1752, 1764, 1766, 1768, 1787, 1815, 1817, 1837, 1838, 1849, 1853, 1854, 1875, 1876, 1880 and 1918 are included under the topic Early Schmitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schmitt Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Schmitt include Schmidt (northern Germany), Schmid (southern Germany), Schmitz (Rhineland), Schmied, Schmitt, Smith (English) and many more.

Early Notables of the Schmitt family

Notable figures of the time with the name Schmitt were Bernhard Schmidt (1630-1708), known as "Father Smith", who was a famous organ builder; Georg Philipp Schmidt (1766-1849), known as "Schmidt from Luebeck", who was a physician and Romantic poet; Friederich Wilhelm Schmidt (1764-1838), who was a Prussian pastor and poet; Christoph von Schmid (1768-1854), Roman Catholic priest and writer of Christmas...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schmitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schmitt Ranking

In the United States, the name Schmitt is the 1,289^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Schmitt is ranked the 78^th most popular surname with an estimated 33,432 people with that name. 2

Schmitt migration to the United States +

Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Schmitt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joh Andreas Schmitt, who arrived in America in 1709-1711 3
Joh Joerg Schmitt, who landed in America in 1709-1711 3
Joh Jost Schmitt, who arrived in America in 1709-1711 3
Johann Andreas Schmitt, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1709 3
Johann Enters Schmitt, who landed in America in 1709 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Schmitt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Katharina Schafer Schmitt, who landed in New York, NY in 1800 3
Jakob Schmitt, who landed in North America in 1800 3
Joh Christ Schmitt, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1801 3
Johan Schmitt, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 3
Catharina Schmitt, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1801 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Schmitt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Karolina Schmitt, aged 17, who landed in New York in 1902 3
Adolph Schmitt, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1904 3
Emit Schmitt, who landed in Arkansas in 1904 3
Carl Yackob Schmitt, who arrived in Alabama in 1915 3

Schmitt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schmitt Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jacob Schmitt, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1752
Mr. Amos Lucas Schmitt U.E., (Shmitt) who settled in Canada c. 1784 4
Mr. Jacob Schmitt U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 4
Mr. Johann Jacob Schmitt U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Schmitt (post 1700) +

Sally Schmitt (d. 2022), American restauranteur, co-founder of the French Laundry restaurant
Albert Harry "Al" Schmitt (1930-2021), American recording engineer and record producer who won twenty Grammy Awards for his work with Henry Mancini, Steely Dan, George Benson, Toto, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, and others
Roland Walter Schmitt (1923-2017), American physicist, business executive, the 16th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Francis O. Schmitt (1903-1995), American biologist and Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harrison Hagan Schmitt PH.D. (b. 1935), former NASA astronaut with over 301 hours in space 5
Otto Schmitt (1913-1998), American inventor and biophysicist
Herbert F. N. Schmitt, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Bogotá, 1943 6
Harrison Hagan Schmitt (b. 1935), American Republican politician, U.S. Senator from New Mexico, 1977-83; Defeated, 1982 6
Eric Schmitt, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 2012; Elected Missouri State Senate 15th District 2012 6
Edwin C. Schmitt Jr., American Republican politician, Postmaster at Baxter Springs, Kansas, 1959 6
... (Another 22 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Schmitt family +

Bismarck

Paul Schmitt (1917-1941), German Bootsmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7
Michael Schmitt (1915-1941), German Bootsmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7
Georg Schmitt (1918-1941), German Maschinengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7
Eduard Schmitt (1920-1963), German Maschinengefreiter serving aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 7

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Harrison Schmitt. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/schmitt-hh.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details