Surname Schwarzhans - Meaning and Origin

Schwarzhans: What does the surname Schwarzhans mean?

The last name Schwarzhans is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German 'swarz', meaning 'black', and 'han(n)', referring to the profession of a servant or retainer. This indicates a likely connection to people who served in a noble or royal household in some capacity.

It is most commonly found in the German state of Bavaria and the adjacent area of Bohemia and Moravia. The last name likely came into use in the early Middle Ages, signifying a profession an individual or family held, and is a variant of Schwarzmann, now much less common form.

The Schwarzhans family most likely began as a medieval household established in Bavaria, and spread across the region and beyond as members changed their surnames or moved out. The name today is associated with occupational status in the Middle Ages and is now found in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

The last name Schwarzhans has been found to mean different things in different times and places. Today, it is associated predominantly with a profession once held by the family’s ancestors.

Schwarzhans: Where does the name Schwarzhans come from?

The surname Schwarzhans is believed to have originated in Germany, and it is still found primarily in German-speaking areas. In Germany, it has been found mainly in the state of Hesse and the historic region of Prussia, especially in the east and north. Schwarzhans could also be found in some parts of Poland, as the regions used to have shared borders. The surname is not particularly common today, but there is a small but significant presence in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

In comparison to other German surnames, Schwarzhans is fairly rare. According to the German telephone book, there are only a couple of hundred people with the name Schwarzhans.

In the United States, Schwarzhans can also be found. At the peak of German immigration in the late 19th century, many immigrants brought the surname to the United States and it can be found in the Midwest and on the East Coast. There is also a higher concentration of people with the name in Texas.

In the last census, it was estimated that there were nearly 500 individuals in the United States with the Schwarzhans surname. The locations these individuals live in are mostly states with a large German population, such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.

Overall, while the surname Schwarzhans is not particularly common, it can still be found in its original home region of Germany, as well as the United States. For those seeking ancestors with the name Schwarzhans, these are the two places where they will likely find the most people with the surname today.

Variations of the surname Schwarzhans

Schwarzhans, also spelled Schwartzen and Schwarzer, is a surname most commonly found in Germany and the United States with a few occurrences in Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary. In some areas of the United States, such as Illinois, the spelling of the name has been Americanized to Schwartz, Schartz, or Swartz.

The name likely has Germanic origins, deriving from Old German words schwart, meaning black, and hans, meaning man, making Schwarzhans literally translate to “black man.” It is speculated that the name is derived from metonymic occupational names, meaning the original bearer was likely a person of dark complexion or a worker of black materials, such as coal.

Records of the name date back to at least the 1600’s in Germany. During the 1700’s and 1800’s, the name became popular in the United States, likely due to the influx of German immigrants. During this time, records of the surname’s appearance throughout the United States are documented in tax rolls, land grants, marriage records, and other civil records.

Variants, spellings, and surname offshoots are abundant. The most common surname variants include Schwartz, Schartz, Swartz, Schwarzmans, Schwartzman, Schwarzman, Schwarzmon, Schwarzenbach, Schwartzenbach, Schwarzeneck, Schwarzenecker, Schwartzenacker, Blackman, Blackmans, and Blackmann.

Famous people with the name Schwarzhans

• Peter Schwarzhans: German actor and director.
• Stefan Schwarzhans: German figure skater.
• Hajo Schwarzhans: German information technology manager and social entrepreneur.
• Eva Schwarzhans: German artist and sculptor.
• Herbert Schwarzhan: German politician and MEP from Saxony.
• Helmut Schwarzhans: German politician and social democratic member of the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin.
• Kevin Schwarzhans: German artist and illustrator.
• Richard Schwarzhans: German singer-songwriter.
• Paulus Schwarzhans: German theologian and clergyman.
• Christine Schwarzhans: German film producer and screenwriter.
• Karl Schwarzhan: German journalist and newspaper editor.
• Eugen Schwarzhan: Austrian footballer.
• Karl-Theodor Schwarzhans: German historian and professor.
• Willi Schwarzhans: German engineer, physicist, and professor.
• Dieter Schwarzhan: German journalist and editor-in-chief.
• Gert Schwarzhan: German boxing heavyweight champion.
• Hans Schwarzhan: German mathematician, physicist, and professor.
• Ralf Schwarzhans: German economist and public finance professor.
• Alexander Schwarzhans: German politician, member of the Christian Democratic Union.
• Franz Schwarzhans: German journalist and radio host.

Other surnames

SchwarzhauptSchwarzhuber