Show ContentsSchreck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Schreck family

The surname Schreck was first found in Austria, where the name Schreck became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In later years, bearers of the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. The name Schreck comes from the Middle High German word "schrecken," which means "to leap" or "spring," though it carries the connotation of jumping due to being startled or frightened. Like many surnames, the name probably began as a nickname; perhaps the original bearer of the name was talented at leaping or perhaps he was timid and easily startled or frightened. The nickname stuck, and eventually the person took it as his surname.

Early History of the Schreck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schreck research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schreck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schreck Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Schreck, Schrock, Schrockhaas and others.

Early Notables of the Schreck family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Schreck were

  • the Schreck family of Vienna

Schreck Ranking

In the United States, the name Schreck is the 8,990th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Schreck migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schreck Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Catharina Schreck, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1750
  • Nicolaus Schreck, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750
  • Nicolaus Schreck, who landed in America in 1750 [2]
  • Nicklas Schreck, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 [2]
  • Adam Schreck, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Schreck Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Heinr Moritz Schreck, who landed in America in 1814-1820 [2]
  • Catharina Margaretha Schreck, who arrived in New York, NY in 1843
  • Catharina Schreck, who arrived in New York, NY in 1843
  • Dorothea Schreck, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 [2]
  • M Kathar Schreck, who arrived in North America in 1866 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Schreck migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [3]
Schreck Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century
  • Carl Schreck, who settled in Jamaica in 1834
  • Caroline Schreck, who arrived in Jamaica in 1834

Contemporary Notables of the name Schreck (post 1700) +

  • Gerald Click "Click" Schreck (1939-2022), American sailor and Olympic champion at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City
  • R. G. Schreck, American Republican politician, Chair of Iosco County Republican Party, 1950 [4]
  • Stephan Schreck, German professional road bicycle racer
  • Max Schreck (1879-1936), German actor
  • David Schreck, Canadian politician with the New Democratic Party (NDP)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook