Surname Kupferschmiedt - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kupferschmiedt: What does the surname Kupferschmiedt mean?
The last name Kupferschmiedt is a German name and is derived from two words, "Kupfer," meaning "copper," and "Schmied," meaning "smith." As such, it is likely that many people with this surname were metal smiths who specialized in the smelting and forging of copper. The surname can be found in records from the 16th century, and it is still used today throughout Germany and neighboring countries.
Kupferschmiedt was originally an occupational surname, used to distinguish between members of the same family who shared the same profession. This was especially common in the medieval period, where people would often take their father's or grandfather's occupational name as a surname. In this case, it was likely used to refer to people who worked with copper, which was very important in the Middle Ages due to its value and malleability.
Copper smiths during this time period were highly skilled and well respected professionals, making knives, daggers, jewelry, tools, and other objects from copper and brass. The high quality of their work would have been very important in the local community, and as such, those with the surname Kupferschmiedt would likely have been held in high esteem.
Today, many people with the surname Kupferschmiedt still work with copper in some capacity, although it is likely in a much more modern context. Together, the two German words, Kupfer and Schmied, make up a unique and meaningful surname, one steeped in the history of a people and a profession.
Order DNA origin analysisKupferschmiedt: Where does the name Kupferschmiedt come from?
The last name Kupferschmiedt is a German occupational surname meaning "coppersmith". It is derived from two separate elements - "Kupfer", meaning copper, and "Schmiedt" meaning smith. This surname is common in German-speaking areas such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and some parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
Within Germany, the Kupferschmiedt surname is especially common in the west and south, especially in the states of Münster, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg. In English-speaking countries, the surname is more commonly found in the form Coppersmith.
Most records of Kupferschmiedt families indicate that they were primarily farmers and craftsmen who made tools, utensils, and objects out of copper. Today, Kupferschmiedt families are still found throughout German-speaking regions, although the profession of coppersmithing is much less common than it once was.
The Kupferschmiedt surname can also be found in the United States, especially in Pennsylvania and New York, as well as in Canada, specifically in areas where there are large numbers of German immigrants. While the surname is still prominent in Germany and in German-speaking regions, it is not as common in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Kupferschmiedt
The surname Kupferschmiedt has many variants and spellings due to its long history. This German surname is quite common and has its roots in the Middle Ages when it was employed as an occupational name for a blacksmith who worked with copper. It is believed that the earliest known form of the surname is Kupferschmied which dates back to 1267 in Bavaria, Germany.
The most common variants, spellings and surnames of Kupferschmiedt include but are not limited to: Kupferschmidt, Kupferschmid, Kupferschmied, Kupferpfennig, Kupferhaupt, Kupfersmith, Koppelschmidt, Koppeschmidt, Koppschmidt, and Koopferschmidt.
Many of the above-mentioned variants are found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. The surname is also present in North America, especially in Canada and the United States. Variations of Kupferschmiedt can be found in the Pennsylvania German dialect such as Kopferschemid, Koppelschemid, Koppeshmid, and Koopfeschemid.
In the United States, the variants Kupferschmidt and Koppeschmidt as well as anglicized forms such as Copperhead, Coppermine, Copper, Coopersmith, and Copenhaver are found. In the United Kingdom, various forms of the name include Kopersmid, Kupersmlth, Kupfersmyd, Kupferd, Kupfer, Kooperman, Koopers, and Cooper.
In general, forms of the surname Kupferschmiedt that end in “schmidt” or “schmied” can be assumed to be related to blacksmithing and are derived from the Middle High German “Schmidt” or “Schmid,” meaning blacksmith. Forms of the surname ending in “mine” or “pfennig” refer to copper, and those ending in “daempf” or “dampf” refer to steam or fog.
Famous people with the name Kupferschmiedt
- Hilda Kupferschmiedt: singer-songwriter and actress from Paraguay.
- Sonja Kupferschmiedt: German actress.
- Astrid Kupferschmiedt: German singer and storyteller.
- Lotte Kupferschmiedt: German actress and photographer.
- Lepold Kupferschmiedt: German actor.
- Hedwig Kupferschmiedt: German textile designer.
- Gertrud Kupferschmiedt: German operatic soprano.
- Geoffrey Kupferschmiedt: German actor and director.
- Elisabeth Kupferschmiedt: German actress and film producer.
- Valentina Kupferschmiedt: German film and television actress.