Question Home

Position:Home>Genealogy> What is the meaning of my last name?


Question: What is the meaning of my last name!?
Shamberger!? Apparently my paternal family goes as far back as the late 1700s in the U!.S!., but they Americanized the name!. I would like to know what it means and who I am related to in Germany!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Adding on to the above, -er also indicates the area the family comes from!. Ich bin Berliner means I am from Berlin!. It could mean the family came from Schaumberg!.

Berg also means mountain!. It is possible the berg is a corruption of -burg, which means walled city, such as Bittburg or Ludwigsburg!.

Hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Due to the bad spelling, it is hard to tell!.

It sounds to me as if the name should be "Schaumberger"!. That is a common German name!.

"Schaum" means "foam" or "bubbles"!. The "berger" is a Germanic construction "er" means "doer" -- the verb would be "bergen", i!.e!. to rescue, save, protect, etc!. Therefore, the closest one can come today would be "Foamsaver"!. Sorry, that is the best I can do!.

However, interestingly enough, the German word "Meerschaum" means a kind of rock with a foamy appearance!. I believe the same word is used in English!. Perhaps "Schaumberger" was somebody who had something to do with this rock!? It was/is used to make tobacco pipes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com