Surname Krätzschmär - Meaning and Origin

Krätzschmär: What does the surname Krätzschmär mean?

The last name Krätzschmär is an old German surname, meaning "lice-cutter". It is believed to come from the profession of lice-tailer or lice culler. In Germany, the profession of lice-cutting began in the Middle Ages and continued until the 19th century.

Lice-cutters would travel to villages to offer their services to the citizens, offering relief from the camp itch caused by the body lice endemic in crowded living conditions. They would use a comb with closely set teeth to search through the hair of the person being treated, carefully cutting away any lice they found.

The name Krätzschmär may also be derived from the German verb "krätzen," which also means "to cut off lice."

The surname is still in use in Germany today, though it is rare. It is used even less frequently outside of Germany, though there are documented cases of bearers of the surname residing in countries like France, the United States, and the Czech Republic.

Despite being a relatively rare surname today, the history and legacy of the Krätzschmär family is one of hard work, resilience, and dedication to providing relief to those in need. Families with the surname Krätzschmär can proudly trace their lineage back to this age-old profession.

Krätzschmär: Where does the name Krätzschmär come from?

The surname Krätzschmär is primarily found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland today. It is a typically Uerdingen surname, named after a small town located in Uerdingen in the former Rhineland-Palatinate state. The town of Uerdingen is believed to be founded around 1207 by a group of settlers, who were believed to carry the Uerdingen surname.

The surname Krätzschmär is believed to have originated from the Uerdingen region, but its exact origin is unknown. It is commonly believed that the surname began as a surname of nobility or a prestigious family during the Middle Ages. It is likely that the name was passed down through generations, eventually becoming the prominent Krätzschmär surname known today.

Today, the Krätzschmär surname is still widely used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is also found in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Brazil. Additionally, in recent years the surname has been adopted by people of varying ethnic backgrounds from all over the world.

As the surname Krätzschmär is not especially common, the people that do carry the surname are typically proud of its unique origin and the characteristics it implies. The surname Krätzschmär is symbolic of strength, prestige and nobility, and is a reminder of the people in whose footsteps modern carriers of the surname are following.

Variations of the surname Krätzschmär

Krätzschmär is a German surname believed to have originated in the 7th century. This distinct name is derived from the Old German words kratzen, meaning ‘to scratch’, and mär, meaning ‘famous’. As such, the literal translation for Krätzschmär is ‘the famous one who scratches’.

The variants and spellings of this name include Kreuzzmeier, Kratzschaar, Krettschmaer, Kraetzscchmier, and Krischmeier.

Kratzmeier and Kreuzmaier are closely related variants of this surname, as is Krazmaier — a name derived from the Old High German words krazo, meaning ‘Interest’, and meier, meaning ‘mayor’. As such, the literal translation is ‘the interesting mayor’.

The surname Krachtmeir is also similar, with the Old German words kraft, meaning ‘power’, and meer, meaning ‘lake’. Therefore, ‘the powerful lake’ is a close interpretation for the name Krachtmeir.

Kratzschmar is also a notable variant of Krätzschmär, itself descending from the Old High German words kratzen, meaning ‘to scratch’, and schmar, meaning ‘famous’.

In addition, the surnames Krantzmeyer, Krantsmeyer, Kremmerz, Krätschmar, Krätschmär, Kratzmair, Kretschmar, Kretschmer, Krötzmayer, and Kretz Mayer are all related to Krätzschmär.

Finally, the diminutives Kratschmer and Kratschmare are also linked to Krätzschmär, the former of which is derived from the Old German words kratsch, meaning ‘squeak’, and meer, meaning ‘lake’.

Famous people with the name Krätzschmär

• Kurt Krätzschmär: www.kurt-kraetzschmaer.de: German engraver, sketcher, scenic painter and illustrator.
• Karl Krätzschmär: German lawyer and social democratic party politician, who served in the Bavarian government from 1930 to 1933.
• Richard Krätzschmär: German physician and ophthalmologist, who was a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Munich from 1923 to 1941.
• Heini Krätzschmär: German football coach, most well-known as manager of FC St. Pauli from 1984 to 1988.
• Richard Krätzschmär: World War I fighter ace with 15 aerial victories.
• Gottfried Krätzschmär: German historian and author of several books on German history.
• Barbara Krätzschmär: German fashion designer and founder of the famous “Krätzschmär” line of clothing.
• Marcus Krätzschmär: German journalist and author of several books on German politics and history.
• Horst Krätzschmär: German piano builder and inventor, who was acclaimed for his innovations in the building of pianos.
• Jürgen Krätzschmär: German astronomer and research director of the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Heidelberg from 2006 to 2014.

Other surnames

Krätzschmann