Show ContentsSchon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Schon surname is derived from the Upper German word "schöne," which means "beautiful."

Early Origins of the Schon family

The surname Schon was first found in Prussia, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging society. They became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, always elevating their social status and influence by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Schon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schon research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1586, 1765, 1773, 1856, 1860 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Schon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schon 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 Schon include Schoen, Schoene, Schon, Schone, Schoenemann, Shoneman, Schoeneman and many more.

Early Notables of the Schon family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Schon migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Schons to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Schon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Georg Schon, whose Oath of Allegiance was recorded in Pennsylvania in 1744
  • Georg Schon, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1744 [1]
Schon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Schon, aged 38, who arrived in America in 1841 [1]
  • Karl Friedrich Schon, aged 34, who arrived in America in 1844 [1]
  • Karl Schon, aged 24, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1847 [1]
  • Daniel Schon, who arrived in America in 1849 [1]
  • Georg Phil Schon, who landed in America in 1851 [1]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Schon (post 1700) +

  • Donald Schon (1930-1997), U.S. thinker
  • Neal Schon (b. 1954), American rock guitarist
  • Francis E. Schon, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 30th District, 1950 [2]
  • Jan Hendrik Schon (b. 1970), German physicist
  • Helmut Schon (1915-1996), German footballer
  • Baron Frank Schon (b. 1912), born in Vienna and went on to become a leading British industrialist
  • Jonas Schon (b. 1969), Swedish ice speed skater
  • Ebbe Schon (b. 1929), Swedish writer, literary historian and folklorist
  • Christine Schon Marques, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Democrats Abroad, 2000, 2004, 2008; Member of Democratic National Committee from Democrats Abroad, 2004 [3]

Bismarck
  • Franz Schön (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [4]
  • Alfred Schön (1919-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [4]


  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, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


Houseofnames.com on Facebook