Surname Schweickhard - Meaning and Origin

Schweickhard: What does the surname Schweickhard mean?

The last name Schweickhard is of German origin, and has been linked to the German word ‘schweick’, meaning ‘harsh’ or ‘hard’. Thus, the name is roughly translated as “one who is hard or harsh”. The surname is believed to have originated from the south-western German region of Pfalz in Bavaria, and is among the many variations of last names derived from names of German regions.

It’s possible that the name has been adopted by several different generations of people throughout the years, stories of which remain unknown. The name has come to be associated with the immigrants who originally settled in the U.S. in the 1700’s, though it is unclear exactly how many branches it branched out to over the years.

Today, those who carry the last name Schweickhard are widely spread out across the U.S. and Europe, and often prefer to keep a connection to their original heritage. That being said, there is an abundance of Schweickhard’s living in Germany and particularly in the Rhineland region. With a long legacy of tradition, the Schweickhard family has become a timeless part of European history.

Schweickhard: Where does the name Schweickhard come from?

The last name Schweickhard is generally most common in German-speaking countries today. In Switzerland, Schweickhard is the 1682nd most common surname according to genealogical research data. The name is fairly uncommon in Austria, but still ranks in the top 5,000 of all surnames. In Germany, Schweickhard ranks between 3,500 and 4,000 in terms of frequency.

In the United States, the surname Schweickhard is fairly uncommon and is estimated to be the 21,734th most commonly occurring surname according to the US Census Bureau. According to the research, people bearing the last name Schweickhard are most commonly found in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, although there are some people with the last name in other states as well.

Schweickhard is thought to be derived from the Old High German, meaning “brave guardian”. It is seen as a combination of two elements – the first being “swig”, meaning guard, and the second element “hard”, meaning brave or brave man. There are a few variations of the surname such as Schwieckhardt, Schwebach or Schweigel.

Regardless of where people with the last name Schweickhard are found today, it is clear that the name has a long history; one that has spanned centuries and crossed language boundaries. It is a reminder of the family ties that are passed down for generations and the heritage that has been passed down through the generations by those bearing the last name.

Variations of the surname Schweickhard

The surname Schweickhard has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Schweikhard is one of the most common variations. Other spellings include Schwieckhard, Schwikhard, Schwikhardt, Schwackekardt, Schwakekard, Schwackhard, Schwakehardt, Schwichkard, Schwersky, and Schwerzky.

The place name Schweinerden is thought to be the source of the surname. It is one of several places within Germany, usually found near the borders. Those with the surname likely hailed from these areas centuries ago.

An Italian variation of the name is Swickard/Swikard. In the United States, the name is commonly seen as Swickard, Sweigart, and Swigart. These were commonly found amongst immigrants from German-speaking nations who changed their name to make them more pronounceable by their new countrymen.

The Czech and Slovakian variation of Schweickhard is Pecina or Pecinka. These spellings came about due to the change of the name to make it easier to pronounce for Czech and Slovakian speakers. The name can also be seen in some Polish documents written in Latin as Schweychard.

Schwukard, Schweykard, Schweigarth, Schweygart, Schweygert, Schweykorth, and Schweykhort are other variants of the name, which were generally found in the United States within communities of German descent.

Overall, there are various forms of the surname Schweickhard as well as different spellings and surnames of the same origin that are derived from it.

Famous people with the name Schweickhard

• Steven Schweickhard: Principal Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
• Bruce Schweickhard: athlete and the first head coach of the University of Oregon basketball team
• Aug Schweickhard: professional football player involved with the sport since the early 1900s
• Charles Schweickhard: famous geologist, ecologist and public speaker
• Katie Schweickhard: famous actress, best known for her roles in The Middle and Nashville
• Will Schweickhard: musician and composer best known for his work on NBC's The Voice
• Rosalie Schweickhard: German aviator who set multiple national records
• Caroline Schweickhard: Austrian author and Nobel Prize nominee
• Daniel Schweickhard: neuroscience professor at Stanford University
• Edgar Schweickhard: US experimental physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project

Other surnames

Schweickhardt