Schroeder Surname Meaning and Family History

The German last name Schröder or Schroeder is an occupational name for a tailor or cutter of cloth, from the Middle Low German schroden or schraden, meaning "to cut." In northern Germany, Schroeder was sometimes translated as "drayman," or one who delivered beer and wine.

Schröder is the 16th most common German surname.

Surname Origin: German

Alternate Surname Spellings: SCHRÖDER, SCHRODER, SCHRADER, SCHRØDER

Famous People with the SCHROEDER Surname

• Richard Bartlett "Ricky" Schroder, Jr. - American actor and film director
• Friedrich Ludwig Schröder - German actor and prominent masonic leader
• Abel Schrøder - Danish woodcarver
• Christa Schroeder - personal secretary to Adolph Hitler
• Ernst Schröder - German mathematician

Where is the SCHROEDER Surname Most Common?

Surname maps from Verwandt.de indicate the Schröder surname is most common in northwestern Germany, especially in areas such as Hamburg, Region Hannover, Bremen, Lippe, Diepholz, Herford, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Märkischer Kreis and Hochsauerlandkreis.

Surname distribution maps from Forebears do not specifically address the Schröder spelling but indicate that the surname Shroder is most prevalent in Germany (although not as common as Schroeder), while the majority of individuals with the Schroeder spelling live in the United States. Based on population percentage, however, Schroeder is a much more common surname in Germany and is especially common in Luxembourg, where it ranks as the 10th most common surname in the country. Data from WorldNames PublicProfiler varies (probably based on the interpretation of the umlaut spelling), pointing to Schroder being most prolific in Germany, followed by Denmark, Norway, Austria, and the Netherlands, while Shroeder is by far the most common in Luxembourg, followed by the United States.

Genealogy Resources for the Surname SCHROEDER

Meanings of Common German Surnames
Uncover the meaning of your German last name with this free guide to the meanings and origins of common German surnames.

Schroeder Family Crest - It's Not What You Think
Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Schroeder family crest or coat of arms for the Schroeder surname. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.

SCHROEDER Family Genealogy Forum
This free message board is focused on descendants of Schroeder ancestors around the world.

DistantCousin.com - SCHROEDER Genealogy & Family History
Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Schroeder.

GeneaNet - Schroeder Records
GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Schroeder surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.

The Schroeder Genealogy and Family Tree Page
Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Schroeder surname from the website of Genealogy Today.

Sources

Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.

Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.

Fucilla, Joseph. Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.

Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.

Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.

Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.

Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.