History of your Surname
Get access to Schneider family records.Start a free trial

Schneider Family History

Schneider Name 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 (see 2 below). In part Schneider is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola Slovenia (see Kocevar ). Compare Sneider 1 Snider 1 and Snyder Germanized form of Czech Slovak Croatian and Slovenian Šnajdr or Šnajder and Czech Šneidr Šneider Šnejdr and Šnejder surnames of German origin (see above).

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


Similar surnames: Schneier, Schreier, Schreiber, Scheider, Schaefer, Schneid, Schleifer

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

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 1840 there were 33 Schneider families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 41% of all the recorded Schneider's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Schneider families in 1840.
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.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Schneider ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Schneider. 11% of Schneider men worked as a Farmer and 8% of Schneider women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Schneider were Clerk and Clerk. .

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 1940

  • Farmer
    11%
  • Laborer
    9%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Clerk
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    8%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Teacher
    5%
  • Clerk
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

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 US 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 USA, 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

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Schneider family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Schneider last name

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