Show ContentsSchammel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Schammel

What does the name Schammel mean?

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Schammel. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Schammel family.

Early Origins of the Schammel family

The surname Schammel was first found in Prussia and Silesia, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of these regions which were settled by many German tribes. They emerged to form alliances with other families within the feudal system.

Early History of the Schammel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schammel research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1808, 1813, 1817, 1841, 1850 and 1893 are included under the topic Early Schammel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schammel 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 Schammel include Schramme, Schram, Schramke (southern Germany) and many more.

Early Notables of the Schammel family

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


Schammel migration to the United States +

Prussia played an extremely influential role in shaping modern German history. It remained a part of Germany until after the Second World War. Prussia was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. Many Prussians became residents of these new countries after the War, and many migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly to Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Schammel were

Schammel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Schammel, who arrived in New York in 1709 1
  • Carl Schammel, who arrived in America in 1783 1
Schammel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • August Schammel, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 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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