NameCensus.

UK surname

Schmidt

A German occupational surname referring to a smith or metalworker.

In the 1881 census there were 668 people recorded with the Schmidt surname, ranking it #5,398 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,257, ranked #4,758, up from #5,398 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Oxford and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Schmidt is 1,353 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.2%.

1881 census count

668

Ranked #5,398

Modern count

1,257

2016, ranked #4,758

Peak year

1911

1,353 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Schmidt had 668 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,398 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,257 in 2016, ranked #4,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,353 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Schmidt surname distribution map

The map shows where the Schmidt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Schmidt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Schmidt over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 112 #15,913
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 668 #5,398
1891 historical 735 #5,398
1901 historical 1,234 #4,013
1911 historical 1,353 #3,545
1997 modern 860 #6,180
1998 modern 955 #5,876
1999 modern 1,019 #5,625
2000 modern 980 #5,791
2001 modern 976 #5,689
2002 modern 997 #5,702
2003 modern 987 #5,651
2004 modern 1,018 #5,515
2005 modern 1,052 #5,323
2006 modern 1,046 #5,367
2007 modern 1,108 #5,153
2008 modern 1,127 #5,121
2009 modern 1,149 #5,144
2010 modern 1,203 #5,033
2011 modern 1,197 #4,991
2012 modern 1,240 #4,782
2013 modern 1,271 #4,751
2014 modern 1,264 #4,805
2015 modern 1,267 #4,746
2016 modern 1,257 #4,758

Geography

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Where Schmidts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Oxford, North Lincolnshire and Cambridge. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 012 Westminster
2 Oxford 008 Oxford
3 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
4 Oxford 011 Oxford
5 Cambridge 007 Cambridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Schmidt

These lists show first names that appear often with the Schmidt surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Schmidt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Schmidt, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Schmidt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Schmidt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Schmidt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Schmidt is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Schmidt falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Schmidt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Schmidt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Schmidt

The surname Schmidt originated in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the German word "Schmied," which means "blacksmith" or "metalworker." It was a common occupational surname given to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or metalworkers.

Schmidt is one of the most common surnames in Germany, particularly in the northern and central regions. It is also prevalent in neighboring countries like Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe, where German influence and migration have been significant.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Schmidt can be found in medieval German records and documents. One notable example is the mention of a certain Johannes Schmidt in a document from the city of Nuremberg, dated 1275.

While the surname Schmidt did not appear in the Domesday Book (a record of landowners in England in 1086), there are mentions of individuals with similar occupational surnames, such as Faber (Latin for "blacksmith") and Ferrum (Latin for "iron").

Some notable historical figures with the surname Schmidt include:

1. Erasmus Schmidt (1570-1637), a German mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to the calculation of planetary orbits. 2. Bernhard Schmidt (1879-1935), a German optician and inventor of the Schmidt camera, widely used in astronomy. 3. Albert Schmidt (1841-1923), a German chemist best known for his work on the synthesis of organic compounds. 4. Arno Schmidt (1914-1979), a renowned German writer and translator, celebrated for his avant-garde novels and experimental writing style. 5. Otto Schmitt (1913-1998), a German-American biophysicist and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of electronic circuits and medical devices.

The surname Schmidt has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout Germany and neighboring regions. Examples include Schmidtstadt (a town in Saxony), Schmidtmühlen (a village in Bavaria), and Schmidtburg (a castle in Thuringia).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Schmidt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Schmidt surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 301 Schmidts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.65x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 301 4.65x
Surrey 65 2.06x
Lancashire 56 0.73x
Yorkshire 55 0.86x
Kent 42 1.90x
Essex 31 2.43x
Staffordshire 11 0.50x
Lanarkshire 10 0.48x
Midlothian 10 1.15x
Durham 9 0.47x
Northumberland 9 0.94x
Renfrewshire 9 1.80x
Sussex 8 0.73x
Gloucestershire 7 0.55x
Hampshire 7 0.53x
Inverness-shire 5 2.59x
Perthshire 5 1.72x
Fife 4 1.04x
Berkshire 3 0.62x
Hertfordshire 2 0.45x
Oxfordshire 2 0.50x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.17x
Angus 1 0.17x
Ayrshire 1 0.21x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Devon 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.58x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Morayshire 1 1.00x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x
Shropshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East in Middlesex leads with 31 Schmidts recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.47x.

Place Total Index
St George In East 31 70.47x
St Pancras London 26 4.99x
Lambeth 25 4.43x
Islington London 24 3.83x
Liverpool 22 4.72x
Westminster St James 21 31.59x
Camberwell 19 4.60x
Shoreditch London 18 6.42x
Hackney London 17 4.69x
St Marylebone London 17 4.92x
Whitechapel London 16 25.10x
St George Hanover 13 15.40x
Bethnal Green London 11 3.92x
Fulham London 11 11.73x
West Ham 11 3.90x
Barony 10 1.89x
Deptford St Paul 10 5.88x
Lewisham 10 8.50x
South Mimms 10 112.74x
Tonbridge 10 12.56x
Harborne 9 12.86x
Kensington London 9 2.50x
Mile End Old Town 9 8.82x
Bromley London 8 5.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 2.30x
Hulme 8 4.99x
Leyton Low 8 30.83x
Middlesbrough 8 9.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 5.74x
Theydon Garnon 7 239.73x
West Greenock 7 7.78x
Westgate 7 11.75x
Eccleshill 6 38.46x
Poplar London 6 4.92x
Richmond 6 13.59x
Chelsea London 5 2.57x
Clifton 5 7.80x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 6.00x
Hornsey 5 6.11x
Inverness 5 10.29x
Paddington London 5 2.10x
Romford 5 24.78x
South Kirkby 5 357.14x
St Anne Soho London 5 13.54x
St Giles In Fields 5 22.41x
Westminster St John 5 6.35x
Bow London 4 4.86x
Kinnoull 4 52.42x
Scarborough 4 6.87x
Bradford 3 1.93x
Burntisland 3 28.04x
Bury 3 3.42x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 13.04x
Gateshead 3 2.08x
Goole 3 27.93x
Holy Trinity 3 1.95x
Kingstonupon Hull 3 58.37x
Margate St John Baptist 3 7.43x
Newington 3 1.26x
Reading St Giles 3 6.30x
Sculcoates 3 2.95x
Southampton All Sts 3 13.19x
Toxteth Park 3 1.15x
Birkdale 2 10.30x
Clapham 2 2.47x
Cottingham 2 14.48x
Eastbourne 2 3.99x
Hastings St Mary 2 7.37x
Hendon 2 8.59x
Horton In Bradford 2 2.00x
Lee 2 6.24x
Mile End New Town 2 22.65x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 4.01x
Portsea 2 0.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 1.54x
St Botolph Aldgate 2 22.65x
St Clement Danes 2 19.10x
St George Bloomsbury 2 5.39x
Woking 2 10.53x
Woolwich 2 2.45x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Schmidt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 10
Annie 8
Mary 8
Catherine 7
Louisa 7
Maria 7
Anna 6
Bertha 6
Caroline 6
Eliza 6
Margaret 6
Minnie 6
Sophia 6
Clara 5
Dora 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Gertrude 5
Jane 5
Rosa 5
Amelia 4
Hannah 4
Marie 4
Martha 4
Augusta 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Kate 3
Maggie 3
Theresa 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Clare 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Ida 2
Lena 2
Louise 2
Mathilda 2
Maud 2
Mrs. 2
Rebecca 2
Charltte 1
Charltte. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Schmidt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 20
Charles 15
Henry 15
Frederick 14
William 14
George 11
Carl 10
Ernest 8
Wilhelm 8
Albert 6
Peter 5
Arthur 4
August 4
Edward 4
Harry 4
Jacob 4
Joseph 4
Louis 4
Phillip 4
Robert 4
Emil 3
Heinrich 3
Herbert 3
Herman 3
Hermann 3
Hugo 3
James 3
Martin 3
Alfred 2
Christian 2
Conrad 2
E. 2
Ferdinand 2
Frank 2
Gustave 2
Julius 2
Leon 2
Leonard 2
Ludwig 2
Max 2
Oscar 2
Otto 2
Philip 2
Sydney 2
Walter 2
Barnhardt 1
Bernhard 1
Diedrich 1
Dudley 1
Wolfgang 1

FAQ

Schmidt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Schmidt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 668 people were recorded with the Schmidt surname. That placed it at #5,398 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Schmidt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,257 in 2016. That gives Schmidt a modern rank of #4,758.

What does the Schmidt surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a smith or metalworker.

What does the Schmidt map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Schmidt bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.