Show ContentsSeelnacht Surname History

Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Seelnacht family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Seelnacht is an occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a baker. The surname Seelnacht is derived from the German word "zelte," which means "flat cake." The name is also an occupational name for a tent maker, derived from the German word "zelt" meaning "tent." Furthermore, there are numerous places named Zelte in the German states.

Early Origins of the Seelnacht family

The surname Seelnacht was first found in Nuremberg, where the name Zeltner contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each becoming involved in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Seelnacht family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Seelnacht research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1758 and 1832 are included under the topic Early Seelnacht History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Seelnacht Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Seelnacht include Zeltner, Zeltener, Zelter, Zeltmer, Zeltiner, Zeltnerin, Zelltner, Zeltinger and many more.

Early Notables of the Seelnacht family

More information is included under the topic Early Seelnacht Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Seelnacht family

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Seelnacht or a variant listed above: Urzula Zeltnerin, who emigrated to America in 1709; Conrad Zellner came to Pennsylvania in 1750; Lotharius Zeltinger came to America with his wife, Barbara Maxheim, and two children in 1764.



Houseofnames.com on Facebook