German statesman who served as chancellor of Germany (born in 1918)
"The new government honored Schmidt, the former German statesman and chancellor born in 1918."
An occupational surname, from German of German origin.
"The Schmidt family has lived in that village for generations, preserving their traditional German heritage through their occupational surname."
The name Schmidt was borrowed directly from the German word meaning "smith." It entered English usage as a variant form related to the native words smid and smith.