The Showalter/Schowalter family originates from the Swiss village

Strengelbach Strengelbach is a municipality in the district of Zofingen in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. Geography Strengelbach has an area, , of . Of this area, or 31.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 44.6% is forested. Of the re ...

. The first known member, Hans Schonwalder, was mentioned in a 1566 record tax record. Later, the family converted to

Anabaptism Anabaptism (from Neo-Latin , from the Greek : 're-' and 'baptism', german: Täufer, earlier also )Since the middle of the 20th century, the German-speaking world no longer uses the term (translation: "Re-baptizers"), considering it biased. ...

. Because of religious persecution and poverty, they migrated to Palatinate (Germany),

Alsace Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...

(France) and from there to the U.S., where most of them live today, numbering over 10,000 people. The Showalter variant is only found in America today, with the vast majority living in the U.S. and a small number in Canada, while the Schowalter variant is found in the German state of

Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...

and the U.S. Wigger2

Notable members

Anthony Johnson Showalter Anthony Johnson Showalter (May 1, 1858 – September 14, 1924) was an American gospel music composer, teacher and publisher. He was born in Cherry Grove, Virginia. Showalter was trained in the Ruebush-Kieffer School of Music and was teaching ...

(1858–1924), American gospel music composer, teacher and publisher *

Buck Showalter William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III (born May 23, 1956) is an American professional baseball manager for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, he served as manager of the New York Yankees (1992–1995), Arizona Diamondb ...

(born 1956), American professional baseball player and manager *

Dennis Showalter Dennis Edwin Showalter (February 12, 1942 – December 30, 2019) was a professor emeritus of history at Colorado College. Showalter specialized in German military history. He was president of the American Society for Military History from 1997 to ...

(1942–2019), American historian *

Daniel Showalter Daniel Showalter (1830–1866), was a California miner, state legislator, duelist, secessionist, and Confederate States of America military officer in Texas. Early life Daniel Showalter was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania and came to Califor ...

(1830–1866), American miner, state legislator, duelist, secessionist and Confederate soldier *

Don Showalter Donald L. Showalter is a professor emeritus and former chairman of the department of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he attended Saint Xavier High School. Afterwards, he received his bache ...

, professor and former chairman of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point * Edward R. Schowalter Jr. (1927–2003), American soldier *

Elaine Showalter Elaine Showalter (born January 21, 1941) is an American literary critic, feminist, and writer on cultural and social issues. She influenced feminist literary criticism in the United States academia, developing the concept and practice of gynocr ...

(born 1941), American literary critic, feminist, and writer on cultural and social issues * Elmer J. Schowalter (1894–1964), American politician *

Gena Showalter Gena Showalter (born 1975 in Oklahoma) is an American author in the genres of contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and young adult. Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27, and has published over 70 books. She has been named by ''Th ...

(born 1975), American author in the genres of contemporary romance, paranormal romance and young adult *

Henry O. Schowalter Henry O. Schowalter (August 4, 1909 – March 24, 1998) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Biography Schowalter was born on August 4, 1909, in Jackson, Washington County, Wisconsin. He died on March 24, 1998. Career Schowalter was a me ...

(1909–1998), American politician *

Jackson Showalter Jackson Whipps Showalter (February 5, 1859 in Minerva, Kentucky – February 5, 1935 in Lexington, Kentucky) was a five-time U.S. Chess Champion: 1890, 1892, 1892–1894, 1895–96 and 1906–1909. Chess career U.S. Championship matches Showalt ...

(1860–1935), American chess player *

Jacob A. Schowalter Jacob Abraham Schowalter (August 25, 1879 – March 10, 1953) was a Kansas farmer, business owner and General Conference Mennonite Church, Mennonite philanthropist whose estate formed the basis of the Schowalter Foundation. Schowalter was born in ...

(1879–1953), American farmer, business owner and philanthropist *

Joseph Baltzell Showalter Joseph Baltzell Showalter (February 11, 1851 – December 3, 1932) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Personal Joseph B. Showalter was born near Smithfield, Pennsylvania. He attended Georges ...

(1851–1932), American politician in Pennsylvania *

Mark R. Showalter Mark Robert Showalter (born December 5, 1957) is a Senior Research Scientist at the SETI Institute. He is the discoverer of six moons and three planetary rings. He is the Principal Investigator of NASA's Planetary Data System Rings Node, a co-inv ...

(born 1957), American astronomer *

Max Showalter Max Gordon Showalter (June 2, 1917 – July 30, 2000), sometimes credited as Casey Adams, was an American film, television, and stage actor, as well as a composer, pianist, and singer. He appeared on more than 1,000 television programs. One ...

(1917–2000), American film, television and stage actor *

Michael Showalter Michael Showalter (born June 17, 1970) is an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer. He first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's ''The State'', which aired from 1993 to 1995. He and David Wain created the ''Wet Hot ...

(born 1970), American actor, writer, and director and part of the sketch comedy trio Stella

References

{{surname, Showalter Surnames of German origin Surnames of Swiss origin German-language surnames Swiss families

Notable members

See also

References