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Schmidt Family History

Schmidt Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name from Middle High German smit German Schmied ‘blacksmith’. This surname is also established in many other parts of Europe notably in Denmark France (mainly Alsace and Lorraine also Nord) the Netherlands Hungary and Poland. It is also found in Slovakia Czechia Croatia and Slovenia where it is more common in Slavicized forms (see below). In part Schmidt is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola Slovenia (see Kocevar ). Germanized form of Czech Šmíd and Šmít Slovenian Croatian and Slovak Šmid or Šmit surnames of German origin (see above and Smid 2 and Smit ).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Scheid, Scheidt, Schmeltz, Schott, Schlick, Schmuck, Schmoldt

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Schmidt family from?

You can see how Schmidt families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Schmidt family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Schmidt families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 34 Schmidt families living in Ohio. This was about 30% of all the recorded Schmidt's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Schmidt families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Schmidt surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Schmidt ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Schmidt. 15% of Schmidt men worked as a Farmer and 8% of Schmidt women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Schmidt were Clerk and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Schmidt | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    15%
  • Laborer
    10%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Clerk
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    8%
  • Stenographer
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Clerk
    5%
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What Schmidt family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 730,000 census records available for the last name Schmidt. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Schmidt census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Schmidt

Passenger Lists

There are 285,000 immigration records available for the last name Schmidt. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Schmidt immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 317,000 military records available for the last name Schmidt. For the veterans among your Schmidt ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Schmidt family history

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What is the average Schmidt lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Schmidt life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Schmidt in 1940 was 39, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Schmidt

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