Surname Schweigart - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schweigart: What does the surname Schweigart mean?
The last name Schweigart is of German origin and it is derived from the Middle High German name “Schwager” meaning “ally” or “friend.” It is thought to have been used as an occupational name to describe a “trade ally” or someone who engaged in commerce with friends and family.
The surname Schweigart is most commonly found in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The first recorded spelling of the surname is believed to be from 1706 in Baden, Germany.
Today, there are many variants of the surname Schweigart that have developed over time, including “Schweiger,” “Schweigerte,” “Schwiger,” “Schwijert,” and “Schwijerte.” These changes were likely due to mispronunciation or mishearing of the surname.
The coat of arms associated with the family is a black shield with a red oak tree with three green oak leaves and a golden cross. The motto of the family is “In Cruce salus” which means “In the Cross is Salvation.”
Overall, the last name Schweigart has an interesting history and is derived from an occupation. It has also developed many variants over time, and the family has a recognizable coat of arms and motto.
Order DNA origin analysisSchweigart: Where does the name Schweigart come from?
The surname Schweigart is primarily found in Germany, with the highest concentration of individuals with this last name living in the state of Hesse. Outside of Germany, this name can be found in other parts of Europe, mainly in countries such as Austria, France, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It is believed to have originated from Middle High German as a habitational name denoting someone from the town of Schweigart in Bavaria.
The name is thought to have been derived from the personal name Sveigard, made up of two words which can be translated as “joyful” and “guard” – perhaps the place name began as a literal reference to a “guard of joy”. According to the 1990 United States Census, that given name ranked as the 12,640th most popular name in the country, and the Schweigart surname ranked as the 21,358th most popular name in the US.
The surname Schweigart is still widely found in Germany today, where it remains the nation’s 1,160th most frequent surname. According to World Names Public Profiler, a breakdown of the name’s frequency reveals that this surname is primarily located in the Rheinland Pfalz region of Germany, where it has seen an increase in frequency over the past few decades.
Variations of the surname Schweigart
The surname Schweigart is German in origin, and can have several variants, spellings and even surnames related to it. The variants of Schweigart include Schwiegert, Schwigert, Schwiehart, Swygart, and Schweighart.
The related surnames are Schwiegert, Schwigert, Schwiehart, and Schwyhart. These related surnames may have derived from a shortening of the original Swiss surname of Schweigart.
Another way of spelling the surname is Schwieger. This spelling is a combination of the roots of Schweigart and Schwiegert, and could possibly have been used as a nickname for someone known as a ‘son of Schweigart’.
The spelling Schweigert may have evolved due to a mishearing of the original surname. This doubles the ‘g’ sound so instead of the one g in between eig- and -hart, there is now two.
Schwygart is also an alternate spelling of Schweigart. It is possible that this spelling also derived from a mishearing or a misspelling of the original name.
The most common variant of Schweigart is the spelling Schwieger. It is thought to have been a nickname to indicate a direct descendant of Schweigart, as in ‘son of Schweigart’.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and related surnames for the surname Schweigart. These include Schwiegert, Schwigert, Schwiehart, Swygart, Schweighart and Schwygart, with some of these having likely come from a mistake or misunderstanding of the spelling of the original name.
Famous people with the name Schweigart
- Tim Schweigert: Actor and musician who starred in the Broadway musical Bandstand and played bass guitar on the original Broadway cast recording.
- Diane Schweigart: Actress and dancer who was a principal dancer with The Joffrey Ballet and has appeared in productions of Beauty and the Beast, The Nutcracker, and The Snow Queen.
- Christopher Schweigert: Company dancer and ballet master at the Los Angeles Ballet, which he has danced with for the last 15 years.
- George Schweigert: Adjunct professor of theater and film at Marymount Manhattan College and director at Revolution Theatrics, who has written and produced award-winning films.
- Jacques Schweigert: Photographer and visual artist whose work has been displayed all over the world in publications and galleries.
- Leslie Schweigert: Award-winning fine artist whose work has been shown in numerous galleries in the United States and Canada.
- Pieter Schweigert: Award-winning Norwegian contemporary classical composer noted for his works for solo instruments and ensembles.
- John Schweigert: Jazz musician who tours regularly and has recorded and produced seven albums with his band.
- Jenna Schweigert: Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has made films about a variety of topics, including animal rights and environmental justice.
- Holger Schweigert: Professional violinist and music educator who teaches at the Volksschule in Austria.