Surname Schlechtweg - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schlechtweg: What does the surname Schlechtweg mean?
The last name Schlechtweg is a topographic surname originating in Germany. It was given to someone who lived near a bad road, a literal translation being ‘bad road’.
In the past, most people lived in a rural setting and large, paved highways were rare. Traveling was difficult and hazardous, especially if the roads were steep and rough. Many roads bordered fields, working farms and small settlements, with a few dirt paths connecting farmhouses and villages. To refer to a road as ‘bad’ meant it was dangerous and treacherous.
The surname Schlechtweg came into use in the 14th century. It was derived from the German words “schlecht” meaning bad and “weg” meaning road, path or lane. The name may have been given to someone who lived near a particularly hazardous or impassable road.
It is possible that the first person to bear this surname lived near such a road and that their descendants continued to live in the same area for many generations, all with the same surname. It is also possible that the name was adopted by another family and used as a surname. Either way, it is likely that the name Schlechtweg had its origin in a bad road.
Order DNA origin analysisSchlechtweg: Where does the name Schlechtweg come from?
The surname Schlechtweg is a German surname which is most common in the country today; its highest density can be found in Schleswig-Holstein in the north of Germany. The top four cities where the surname is common are Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt.
The origin of the name comes from Middle High German, split into two parts: 'schlecht' and 'weg'. 'Schlecht' means 'bad' or 'poor' and 'weg' means 'way' or 'path'. It is likely a topographical descriptor, referring to paths or ways that were dangerous or of poor quality.
Today, the Schlechtweg family is widespread throughout many regions of Germany, although there are still some high concentrations in its original area of origin. Whilst it may have originally been an occupational surname (for an individual who lived or worked on a dangerous or poor quality path) over time it has become a somber reminder of the long history of the Schlechtweg family in Germany.
Variations of the surname Schlechtweg
The common spelling of the surname Schlechtweg is Schlechtweg, although there are a few other variants. The surname has a long and varied history with several derivatives of the same name.
The variants of the Schlechtweg surname are Schlichtweg, Schlichtwegge, Schlichtwegg, Schlichtweggen, Schlechtwygg, Schlechtwyggen, Schlichtwygg, Schlichtwyggen, Schlichtwech, Schlichtwych, Schlichtwychs, Schlechthweg, Schlichthweg, Schlichthwegen, Schlechtwiege and Schlechtwiegen.
The surnames derived from the Schlechtweg name are often German in origin and are found in Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland. Examples of these German derivative surnames include Schlechtante, Schlechtendal, Schlechtendorf, Schlechtker, Schlechtman, Schlechtner and Schlechtstein.
In addition to its German origin, the Schlechtweg surname is also found in other countries. Schlichting is a Dutch family name derived from Schlechtweg. Variants of Schlichting are Schlicking, Schlickingen, Schlick, Slechting and Schechting.
One variant of the Schlechtweg name is Swick, a surname found in the United States. The name Swick is derived from the original German spelling of Schlichtweg. Other spellings of Swick include Swicke, Swig, Swyg and Swiggen.
In parts of Scotland, a variant of Schlechtweg is Schletweis. The surnames Schletweis, Schletwies, Schletwiss, Schleitweiss, Shleytwiss and Shleytweis are all derived from Schlechtweg.
The Schlechtweg surname has been in existence for many centuries and has evolved over time to form several variants, spellings and surnames. It is an example of how surnames can change and develop over time, often crossing borders and nationalities.
Famous people with the name Schlechtweg
- Marius Schlechtweg, professional German football midfielder
- Miguel Schlechtweg, Chilean Olympic swimmer
- Philipp Schlechtweg, German football forward
- Roque Santa Cruz Schlechtweg, Paraguayan footballer
- Cornelia Schlechtweg, German sprint canoer
- Hildegard Schlechtweg, German political activist
- Karl Schlechtweg, German lawyer
- Paul Schlechtweg, German trade unionist
- Nikola Schlechtweg, German athlete
- Friedrich Schlechtweg, German landscape painter
- Ricarda Schlechtweg, German writer
- Gerhard Schlechtweg, German skater and bobsledder
- Anna Schlechtweg, German cyclist
- Sophia Schlechtweg, German operatic soprano
- Arthur Schlechtweg, German entrepreneur
- Elly von Schlechtweg, German businesswoman
- Luca Schlechtweg, German pop singer
- Wilhelm Schlechtweg, German military officer
- Ferdinand Schlechtweg, German painter
- Claus-Michael Schlechtweg, German tenor and classical singer