Surname Sagenschnier - Meaning and Origin

Sagenschnier: What does the surname Sagenschnier mean?

Sagenschnier is a German surname and is thought to originate from the root word sagen, which means ‘say’ or ‘declare’. It is believed to have been derived from the occupation of a traveling minstrel of medieval times, one that would recite stories and travel from place to place.

The origin of the surname is also derived from the occupation of a ‘sagenmann’; which was a storyteller in Germany and most other European countries. A sagenmann was an entertainer, often skilled in the playing of musical instruments and telling stories, traveling from village to village to provide entertainment.

The name Sagenschnier is likely to have been generated from this activity, as the roots of sagen are combined with 'schneider' which means 'tailor'. It could be that this person was part of the group of traveling sagenmänner, but was specifically a skilled tailor who made clothing or perhaps costumes to accompany the stories they were telling.

Originally this person may have been fairly well-known, due to their role in entertaining, and the name has likely been passed down through the generations ever since. Today, Sagenschnier is a rare name but is unique and stands as a reminder of the distant past of storytelling and entertaining.

Sagenschnier: Where does the name Sagenschnier come from?

The last name Sagenschnier is most commonly found in Germany today. Records show that it is a relatively common name in the former East Germany, but is not found in large numbers in any other parts of the nation.

Though its origins are unclear, the name Sagenschnier is thought to be derived from two old German words – Sagen, meaning ‘say’ and Schnier, meaning ‘executioner’. This suggests that it possibly referred to a public executioner, and was an occupational name of sorts. Some records indicate that it may have been adopted as a surname by families who held a similar profession.

In the modern day, the name can be found in smaller numbers throughout Europe, though its popularity is generally limited. It is not uncommon for people with the surname to spell it slightly differently, with variants including Sagenshenier and Sagenschneier.

Despite the less common nature of the name today, there are a few notable individuals with the name due to its distinguishing spelling. Among them is German-born Wolfgang Sagenschnier, a personal adviser to the former East German President Erich Honecker.

Variations of the surname Sagenschnier

The surname Sagenschnier is an uncommon German name and is derived from the Middle High German "sagen", meaning "to say". It is often spelled Sagenzweig in North America, a variant of the original German name, and is thought to refer to a person who could be described as a "story teller".

One variant of Sagenschnier is Seizenshneyer, which is derived from the original German form and is found predominately in Austria. The surname Sagenweiler is a variant which is believed to refer to an individual from a village of the same name in Germany.

The surname Sageser is also derived from Sagenschnier but has two distinct spellings: Sageser and Seigeser. This spelling is found mainly in the U.S., particularly in the midwest and Pennsylvania.

Sageson and its variants Sagesen and Seigeson are derived from Sagenschnier and can be found in the U.S., particularly in Iowa.

Other variants of Sagenschnier include Zagenschneider and Zenzschneider. These spellings are largely found in the U.S., particularly in Pennsylvania and California.

The surname Segenschneider, a variant of Sagenschnier, is particularly common in Pennsylvania and is thought to refer to an individual from a small German-speaking village of the same name.

The surname Saigh, a variant of Sagenschnier, was first found in the U.S. and is still primarily found in the midwest. It is thought to come from an immigrant who may have shortened their original surname. The variant Seig is a similar adaptation of the original Sagenschnier surname.

Lastly, the surname Seigershneyer is a variant of Sagenschnier and is found predominantly in Austria. It is derived from seig, the German for say, and from schneider, which means tailor. This name combination suggests the original individual was both a story teller and a tailor.

Famous people with the name Sagenschnier

• Harry Sagenschnier: Harry was an American silent film actor who starred in many famous films like The Big City, Half a Chance and The Sign of the Dagger.
• Gerhard Sagenschnier: Gerhard is a German ice hockey player who won a gold medal for Team Germany at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
• Harald Sagenschnier: Harald was a German bobsledder who also won a gold medal for Team Germany at the 1932 Winter Olympics.
• Martin Sagenschnier: Martin is a German cameraman, film director and entrepreneur who won a German Film Award for Outstanding Feature Film for his documentary “It Was All Started by a Mouse” in 2002.
• Lucy Sagenschnier: Lucy is an American theater actress best known for her role as the title character in the 2008 movie “Defiance”.
• Erik Sagenschnier: Erik is a German-American film producer who has worked on several award-winning films such as The Lives of Others and The White Ribbon.
• Hans Sagenschnier: Hans is a German classical music composer who has written several well-known symphonies including “Pictures at an Exhibition” and “Carmina Burana”.
• Maria Sagenschnier: Maria is an Austrian artist and designer who is known for her vivid and colorful landscapes and abstract portraits.
• Waltraud Sagenschnier: Waltraud is a German opera singer and actress who currently performs with the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
• Frank Sagenschnier: Frank is a Swiss alpine skier who won the bronze medal at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics for the giant slalom.

Other surnames

SagenschneiderSägenschnitter