Explore the Family Name Schmeltz

The meaning of Schmeltz

1. German (Bavaria, Franconia, Hesse): occupational name for a smelter, from Middle High German smelzen ‘to smelt metal’. 2. German: habitational name from Schmelz in the Saarland or Schmöltz in Bavaria. 3. Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for a smelter, from German Schmelze ‘smelting’ (see 1 above).

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Schmeltz in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Schmeltz saw a decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 37,534th in terms of popularity, but by 2010 it had dropped to 42,720th, marking a decrease of 13.82%. The count of individuals with the surname also decreased from 558 to 507, a reduction of 9.14%. Furthermore, the proportion of the population with this surname per 100,000 members fell from 0.21 to 0.17, a downturn of 19.05%.

20002010Change
Rank#37,534#42,720-13.82%
Count558507-9.14%
Proportion per 100k0.210.17-19.05%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Schmeltz

The ethnicity associated with the surname Schmeltz, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data, underwent minor changes between 2000 and 2010. The vast majority, 97.31% in 2000 and 96.25% in 2010, identified as White. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black in either year. However, there was an appearance of Hispanic and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic identities in 2010, accounting for 1.18% and 1.78%, respectively. The percentage of those identifying with two or more races dropped from 1.43% in 2000 to zero in 2010.

20002010Change
White97.31%96.25%-1.09%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%1.78%0%
Hispanic0%1.18%0%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
Two or More Races1.43%0%0%
Black0%0%0%