schmid

Schmid is a surname of German origin, a variant of Schmied, an occupational name for a smith. The form Schmid, without the final -t, is especially common in Switzerland and parts of southern Germany and Austria, while Schmidt is the more widespread form in Germany and abroad. The name dates to the Middle Ages when occupational names became hereditary.

Geographic distribution: Today Schmid is especially frequent in Switzerland, ranking among the top surnames there. It is also common in Austria and southern Germany, with smaller concentrations in other German-speaking areas and among descendants of emigrants in the Americas.

Variants and cognates: Other spellings include Schmied, Schmitt, Schmidt, and Schmidth; these share the same origin. The English surname Smith is a distant parallel in meaning, though a separate linguistic lineage.

Notable bearers: Schmid is borne by numerous individuals across fields such as science, arts, sports, and politics, in German-speaking countries and abroad. The name appears in historical records and in contemporary public life.