Surname Schächter - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schächter: What does the surname Schächter mean?
The last name Schächter is a German surname which originates from the Middle High German word "schachter", meaning someone considered to be skillful. In some cases, the name may also derive from the Old High German word "schaachah", referring to someone who is a master of chess.
The surname is thought to be more common in southern Germany, specifically Bavaria. It would have been a name given to someone who had mastery over some area, possibly due to their work as a master craftsman or skilled tradesman. It could also be related to the occupation of chess master.
Today, the surname is fairly uncommon, but it does have some pockets of population that are descendants of individuals who adopted this surname. People with the Schächter surname can be found mainly in regions of Germany such as Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In terms of descendants, there are estimated to be numerous individuals with this last name around the world, since the German diaspora began in the 19th century. Given that this surname is on the rarer side of German surnames, the precise origins of the Schächter family are likely to remain from in the mist of time.
Order DNA origin analysisSchächter: Where does the name Schächter come from?
The last name Schächter is common today mainly in German-speaking countries, including Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It is also found in countries with large German populations, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Schächter is typically a Jewish surname, derived from the Yiddish word for butcher. It is believed that the more closely related a person is to the original name holder, the more likely they are to bear this name. One study found that the most common locations in Europe for people bearing the last name Schächter were Germany and Austria, with a further scattering of occurrences in Romania, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and other Eastern European countries.
In the United States, records of the Schächter surname go back to the mid-nineteenth century, when migrants of Jewish descent settled in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, and can now be found in most states. The highest concentration of this name is in New York and California, typically in urban areas.
Schächter is also found in other regions of the world, with occurrences documented in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, and Brazil. In Canada, the Schächter surname is particularly prevalent in Quebec, and is scattered throughout the other provinces.
Overall, the last name Schächter is most common in Germany and Austria, with a significant representation in the United States and other countries of German heritage.
Variations of the surname Schächter
The surname Schächter is an occupational surname of German origin. The literal meaning is “carpenter.” It is most commonly found in Bavaria, Germany. Variants of this surname include but are not limited to Schechter, Schoechter, Schachter, and Schachterle. Spellings of the surname vary depending on regional dialects, but can also include Schechter, Schechterman, Schachtner, Schachet, Schecter, Schechtermann, Schactner, and Schachtman, among others.
Variants of the surname can also be found in the Jewish community. This is most likely due to the fact that Schächter is of both German and Jewish origin, meaning it can be found in both communities. Common Jewish surnames that are related to Schächter include Schochet, Schachtel, Zachter, and Zachterman, among others.
Despite the variations of this surname, all spellings can be traced back to its German origin. While the surname is most commonly found in Germany, it can also be found in various international locations, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries. As such, many people, regardless of their geographical location, have some connection to Schächter.
Famous people with the name Schächter
- Viktor Schächter: a German-born headed of ballet at the Paris Opera from 1919-1933.
- Julian Schächter: a German conductor and composer of Jewish descent mostly known for works composed during and after World War II.
- Henrik Schächter: a German-born synth music composer, performing artist and music producer.
- Thomas Schächter: a German gymnast and Olympic gold medalist who won the team all-around competition at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games.
- Meister Schächter: a Jewish rabbi from Vienna and leader of Orthodox Jews in the concentration camp Theresienstadt.
- David Schächter: a German film director who has won multiple awards for his work.
- Chaim Schächter: a member of the Supreme Court of Israel between 1983–1993.
- Walter Schächter: a German actor who is well known for his portrayal of German officers in war films.
- Heinrich Schächter: a German-born German-Jewish poet and editor who was active during the 1920s and 1930s.
- Maximilian Schächter: a German-born Austrian architect known for the Vienna Stock Exchange and the Austrian National Library.