Surname Scherbart - Meaning and Origin
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Scherbart: What does the surname Scherbart mean?
The last name Scherbart is a Germanized version of the Old Slavic given name Srebrenik, which translates to “silver”. The surname is found mainly in Germany, Austria, and South Africa.
This ancestral name likely derived from a Slavic location called Srebrenik, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina today; this area was known as a prosperous center for silver production and trade during the medieval and early modern periods. During this time, metalwork was highly sought-after, and the name “Srebrenik” came to represent luxury and wealth.
The Scherbart family’s connection to silver is apparent not only in the family’s ancestry, but in its coat of arms. The shield-type coat of arms is adorned by a drooping eagle, wings spread forward, topped with antlers below a silver helmet and surrounded by four silver crescents.
The coat of arms’ symbolism likely harkens back to the family’s noble heritage and status. In a sense, it also pays respect to where the family’s wealth came from - silver. The crest of the Scherbart family serves as both a reminder of the family’s roots in Srebrenik as well as a symbol of honor for the legacy it built through trade and craftsmanship.
Order DNA origin analysisScherbart: Where does the name Scherbart come from?
The last name Scherbart is not a very common name today. It is likely of German origin, though it is also possible that it could be Polish. It may have come from a combination of the German words "Scher" meaning "to cut," and "Bart," which means "beard," just as the English word "barber" also originated.
Today, the last name Scherbart is primarily located in Germany. It is, however, also present in parts of Eastern Europe. For instance, it is registered as a family name in Lithuania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. There are also some recorded instances of the name in Russia, Switzerland and Austria.
While the last name is not too widespread, it is more common than it used to be. The popularity of the name has grown in recent years and is estimated to continue to increase.
Scherbart itself is an interesting name as it suggests an ancient occupation — that of a barber, the profession of cutting hair and beards. This profession was likely passed down through the Scherbart family, indicating that the family likely has a long history in the profession.
Regardless, the name Scherbart is a unique one and appears to be on the rise in recent years. It may become more popular in the future, as its Eastern European links, its barber origins, and its German roots all make it a rather interesting name.
Variations of the surname Scherbart
The surname Scherbart is an old German surname that originated in the late 12th century. The original spelling of the name was Scherbarth. It is derived from the German words “scherb” meaning “broom” and “barth” which means “cleared land”. The form Scherbart was likely the result of dialectal differences which is evident in the various dialects of Germany even today.
The variants of Scherbart include: Scherbadt, Scherbarth, Scherbardt, Scherbartt, Scherbedt, Scherbart, Scherbort, Sherbart, Sherbort, Sherbardt, Sherbarth, Sherbadt, and Sherbedt.
Surnames of similar origin include Scherber, Schärber, Scherbers, Scharber, Schärbers, and Scharbers.
The meanings of the related surnames are generally the same as Scherbart, with a slight variation in spelling which changed the interpretation to something like “bushy land” for the names Schärber and Schärbers; and “little broom” for the name Scharber and Scharbers.
It is likely that the various spellings and surnames of the same origin developed as the surname was carried from Germany and was changed to accommodate different dialect in the countries it migrated to. Today, Scherbart is still quite common in Europe, with a large minority of the name found in the United States.
Famous people with the name Scherbart
- Johannes Emanuel Scherbart (1824-1893), German professor of philosophy and aesthetics.
- Paul I. Scherbart (1883−1955), Russian/Soviet economist and statistician.
- Alexander Scherbart (1916-1977), German banker and aristocrat.
- Alexander Scherbart, Jr. (1947-1994), German banker and aristocrat.
- Lena Scherbart, German singer and actress.
- Chaim Scherbart (1841-1906), Russian/Polish rabbi.
- Souliman Scherbart (1871-1933), Russian/Polish writer and rabbi.
- Helga Scherbart (1921-2011), German actress.
- Heinrich Scherbarth (1886-1959), German industrialist.
- Johann Scherbart (1763-1837), German theologian.