Schnur is a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational surname deriving from Middle High German snuor and modern German Schnur, meaning "rope" or "cord." It was originally used to denote a maker of rope or cords, thereby linking the bearer to the trade of rope-making. Etymology The name traces its roots to Proto-Germanic *snōrō, which also gave rise to words in other Germanic languages referring to a string or cord. The occupational nature of the surname points to a common medieval practice of identifying individuals by their craft. Notable Bearers Several notable individuals bearing the surname Schnur have distinguished themselves in various fields: Brayden Schnur (born 1995), Canadian tennis player Steve Schnur, President of Music at Electronic Arts (EA) Wolfgang Schnur (1944–2016), East German civil rights lawyer Sandra Schnur (1935–1994), American disability rights leader Max Schnur (born 1993), American tennis player Meghan Schnur (born 1985), American soccer player Diego Hidalgo Schnur, Spanish philanthropist, intellectual, and businessman Variants The surname also has a variant, Schnoor, which is common in northern German-speaking regions. Notably, the surname is linked to Marie Schnür (who used a different spelling), a German painter and illustrator from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Cultural Context As an occupational name, Schnur reflects the history of craftsmanship in medieval Germany centuries. In Jewish (Ashkenazic) families, such surnames were often adopted during the late 18th and 19th centuries, when Jewish populations in parts of Europe were required to adopt hereditary surnames, often drawn from German vocabulary. Meaning: Rope-maker (occupational) Origin: German, Jewish (Ashkenazic) Language: German Usage Regions: Germany, among Ashkenazi Jews Variant: Schnoor