This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Schneider family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Schneider Family History

Schneider Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a tailor literally ‘cutter’ from Middle High German snīder, German Schneider, Yiddish shnayder. The same term was sometimes used to denote a woodcutter. This surname is also established in many other parts of Europe, notably in France (Alsace and Lorraine), the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, and Czechia.

In Czechia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Slovenia, it is also established in Slavicized forms. In part, Schneider is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola, Slovenia.

Compare Sneider, Snider, and Snyder, which are Germanized forms of Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian Šnajdr or Šnajder. Additionally, related Czech surnames include Šneidr, Šneider, Šnejdr, and Šnejder.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Schneider family from?

You can see how Schneider families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Schneider family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Schneider families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 329 Schneider families living in London. This was about 66% of all the recorded Schneider's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Schneider families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Schneider surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Schneider ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Ladies Tailor and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Schneider. 13% of Schneider men worked as a Ladies Tailor and 66% of Schneider women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Schneider were Retired and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Schneider | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Ladies Tailor
    13%
  • Tailor
    11%
  • Cabinet Maker
    10%
  • Retired
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Schneider family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 412,000 census records available for the last name Schneider. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Schneider census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Schneider

Passenger Lists

There are 137,000 immigration records available for the last name Schneider. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Schneider immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 180,000 military records available for the last name Schneider. For the veterans among your Schneider ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Schneider military records

You've only scratched the surface of Schneider family history

Discover More

What is the average Schneider lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Schneider life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Schneider in 1940 was 37, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Schneider

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Schneider ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Schneider family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial