NameCensus.

UK surname

Schmitt

An occupational surname for a metalworker, blacksmith, or craftsman, derived from the German word "Schmied."

In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Schmitt surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, up from #19,877 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Schmitt is 205 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.1%.

1881 census count

99

Ranked #19,877

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

2016

205 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Schmitt had 99 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,877 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 186 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Schmitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Schmitt surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Schmitt 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 38 #29,216
1881 historical 99 #19,877
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 145 #18,426
1911 historical 186 #15,643
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 133 #23,462
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 143 #22,473
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 189 #20,171
2011 modern 186 #20,217
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Schmitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Hackney and Derbyshire Dales. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Westminster 017 Westminster
3 Hackney 027 Hackney
4 Kensington and Chelsea 018 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Schmitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Schmitt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Schmitt, 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 Schmitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Schmitt 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Schmitt is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Schmitt 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

Schmitt falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Schmitt 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 Schmitt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Schmitt

The surname Schmitt has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Schmied," which means "blacksmith." The name likely originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked as a blacksmith or metalworker.

In its earliest recorded forms, the name appeared as "Smit" or "Smyt" in various Germanic regions during the 13th and 14th centuries. Over time, the spelling evolved to include variations such as "Schmid," "Schmitt," and "Schmidt," with the latter becoming the most common form in Germany.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the 12th century. This work mentions an individual named "Cunradus Smit" in a document dated 1181.

The surname Schmitt has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Johannes Schmitt (1535-1597) was a German theologian and Protestant reformer who played a significant role in the Reformation movement. Another prominent figure was Carl Christian Schmitt (1768-1854), a German composer and music theorist known for his contributions to the development of harmony and counterpoint.

In the realm of art, Max Schmitt (1874-1940) was a German painter and printmaker celebrated for his landscapes and etchings. His contemporary, Otto Schmitt (1875-1956), was a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other German cities.

One of the most renowned individuals bearing the surname Schmitt was Carl Schmitt (1888-1985), a German jurist, political theorist, and prominent figure in the field of constitutional law. His influential works, such as "Political Theology" and "The Concept of the Political," explored the relationship between law, politics, and sovereignty.

While the surname Schmitt originated as an occupational name in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural diffusion. However, its roots can be traced back to the skilled metalworkers and blacksmiths of medieval Germany, whose legacy lives on in this enduring family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Schmitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Schmitt 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 50 Schmitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.18x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 50 5.18x
Surrey 19 4.04x
Kent 8 2.43x
Essex 5 2.62x
Yorkshire 4 0.42x
Lancashire 3 0.26x
Sussex 2 1.23x
Durham 1 0.35x
Gloucestershire 1 0.53x
Hertfordshire 1 1.50x
Lanarkshire 1 0.32x
Lincolnshire 1 0.65x
Midlothian 1 0.77x
Warwickshire 1 0.41x
Worcestershire 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 16 Schmitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.10x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 16 17.10x
St Marylebone London 10 19.40x
Camberwell 8 12.97x
Poplar London 6 32.93x
Beckenham 5 116.01x
Hackney London 5 9.24x
Hornsey 5 40.95x
Rotherhithe 5 41.91x
West Ham 5 11.88x
Chelsea London 4 13.75x
Kingstonupon Hull 3 389.61x
Ditton 2 425.53x
Hastings St Leonards 2 83.68x
Wandsworth 2 21.53x
Betchworth 1 172.41x
Bradford 1 4.32x
Cheltenham 1 6.84x
Cranbrook 1 71.43x
Crossgate 1 79.37x
East Sutton 1 769.23x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.92x
Glasgow 1 1.80x
Great Grimsby 1 10.20x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 120.48x
Hadsor 1 2500.00x
Herne 1 68.49x
Manchester 1 1.94x
Milverton 1 140.85x
Penge 1 16.21x
St Andrew Holborn 1 30.58x
St Giles In Fields 1 30.03x
St Pancras London 1 1.29x
Watford 1 19.38x
Westminster St 1 28.09x
Woking 1 35.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 3
Kate 3
Marie 3
Ellen 2
Johanna 2
Margaretha 2
Ana 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emelia 1
Emelie 1
Emma 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Mary 1
Maryan 1
Selina 1
Sussanna 1
Ursule 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 6
Charles 4
George 4
John 3
Peter 3
Francis 2
Gustave 2
Jacob 2
Adna 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Appolitan 1
Carol 1
Christian 1
Curt 1
Frank 1
Frderick 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gerhard 1
Go... 1
Gottfried 1
Guido 1
Henri 1
Joseph 1
Laurent 1
Lewis 1
Ludwig 1
Martin 1
Philip 1
Theodore 1
Victor 1
W. 1
Wilhelm 1

FAQ

Schmitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Schmitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Schmitt surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Schmitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Schmitt a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Schmitt surname mean?

An occupational surname for a metalworker, blacksmith, or craftsman, derived from the German word "Schmied."

What does the Schmitt map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Schmitt 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.