What's in a name?

What is the meaning of Schoser? There is little doubt that Schoser is a German name. Both its spelling and its genealogical traces point to this. German family names often derive from professions. Examples are the family names 'Schlosser'/ 'Schlösser' (locksmith) and 'Schösser'.

JSB - vilifying Schosers? 

At the end of the middle ages, 'Schösser' designated a 'tax collector'. It was derived from the term 'Schoss' meaning direct tax. While the terms ' Schoss' and 'Schösser' are no longer used, the latter happens to have survived in a piece of classical music. Johann Sebastian Bach's Peasant Cantata blamed the 'Schösser' for making the lives of poor farmers even more miserable.

One hypothesis is that 'Schoser' is a variant of 'Schösser'. The latter anyway seems to exist in different variants, notably as 'Schöser', 'Schoeser' and 'Schößer'. Since the underlying term 'Schoss' does not have an umlaut the noun would not seem to require one either. (Just as 'Schloss' is the basis for both Schlosser and Schlösser.) On this assumption, Schoser would be equal to Schösser - and they would have been just as unpopular!

But all this is of course pure speculation...

On stage

Even if Schosers have not yet hit the world stage there is some evidence of their acting talent.

Luzia Schoser played Helena in Shakespeare's romantic comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at her school in Friedberg in September 2008. The school's assembly hall was sold out three evenings in a row and the actors are reported to have received standing ovations.

Stefan Schoser played Mr Otis in Oscar Wilde's comedy 'The Canterville Ghost'. In this play, Mr Otis is the father of a family who moves in an old English country house to find out that the house is haunted. The performance took place during a 'project week' at Progymnasium Burladingen in October 2006.

Who is next, please?

An emergency or health problem? Schosers can provide medical assistance.

Georg Schoser is executive medical director of the Tettnang hospital near Lake Constance. He is specialised in intensive care and anaesthesia and would therefore clearly know what to do in an emergency.

Karin Schoser is medical director of the county hospital of Tuttlingen on the Danube river. She is specialised in the treatment of strokes and responsible for the hospital's stroke ward.

Heike Schoser works in the dan gym of Burladingen. She is physiotherapist specialised in back problems and gives lessons in indoor cycling. Apart from these medical tasks she is responsible for membership administration.

In the case of psychological health problems, Steven Schoser may be able to help out. He works as family therapist for the Addiction Research and Treatment Services (ARTS) at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. ARTS is specialised in drug treatment programs for adolescents and offenders.

Methuselah

According to the Hebrew bible, Methuselah was 969 years old when he died. He is the oldest person mentioned in the bible and has become the symbol of longevity. Schosers have not quite yet reached such biblical age, but two Schosers - with the biblical names Mary and Josef - are almost centenarians.


Methuselah -

the oldest living tree

Mary Alice was born on 23 September 1905 in Durango, Colorado and died there on 6 September 2001 at the age of almost 96. She was the eldest of six children of Dora and Ludwig Schoser. She married Elmer Schumacher in October 1924 at the age of 19. The couple had three children and their marriage lasted 44 years until Elmer died in November 1968.

The longest living male Schoser appears to be Josef Schoser of Friedrichshafen. He turned 95 years on 27 September 2008. The local Südkurier mentions him also as one of the oldest participants in the local music festival in September 2008. If still alive Josef would now be 97 years old and the longest living Schoser ever recorded. Knowing that the region around Lake Constance where Friedrichshafen is situated is famous for its favourable and mild climate there is a chance that he is.

Schosenhof

Previously, we suspected that there was no street having Schoser in its name. We may have been wrong. There are possibly even two streets, or rather roads, relating to Schosers.

Hüfingen and Bräunlingen, two neighbouring small towns on the eastern edge of the Black Forest, possess roads called 'Schosenweg' and 'Schosemer Weg'. These two roads lead to farms called 'Schosenhof', more precisely to the upper and the lower Schosenhof situated on Hüfingen territory.

The resemblance of those road and farm names could be seen as weak evidence to actually link them to the Schoser family - if there weren't more: In fact, about 20 Schosers are recorded to have lived in Hüfingen in the 19th century! The earliest record refers to the marriage of Ludovik (Ludwig) Schoser in 1813 and the last to the christening of Frida Schoser in 1871.

It is not reported whether any of these Schosers really lived on 'Schosenhof', but who would want to doubt this? Does this make Schosenhof the cradle of a branch of the Schoser family? If so, of which? Today, Schosers have disappeared from Hüfingen and surroundings. Where did they go?

If carrying out some field research, one should not miss to pass by the 'Schosenhof' farms. They are situated in idyllic surroundings and one hosts a quaint inn called 'Schosemer Mostschöpfli'.

Girl power

In their free time, Schosers engage in all sorts of voluntary activities. This seems particularly true for female Schosers.

Sonja Schoser has a soft spot for another dog breed. She is member of the association of German shepherds. In the Mägerkingen section of this association she is 'breeding warden' giving advice on how to rear and breed these dogs.

Simone Schoser takes an active role in Spatzennetz, a parent association running a number of nursery groups and family activities in Tettnang. The association was founded by parents in need of child care not provided for by the authorities. Since 2009, Simone has been member of Spatzennest's management team with responsibility for festivities.

Angelika Schoser makes regular blood donations. In November 2008, she was honoured by the mayor of Burladingen for having donated for the 25th time. Afterwards, all regular blood donors were invited to re-liquefy their blood and have a glass of Champagne.

Reflection before action?

During the school year 2009/10, Luzia Schoser has served as student representative of the senior classes at her school Augustinerschule Friedberg. In spite of the responsibilities which come with this office, she and her fellow representatives still seem to have time for reflection. Moreover, Luzia seems to devote some of her free time to the baking 'Pfitzauf', a Swabian speciality resembling muffins, hopefully also to the benefit of others...

Pfitzauf

Uta Schoser is one of about 200 volunteers visiting families with newborns. In the first year of this campaign of the City of Cologne, the mother of six made already about 40 of such 'children-welcome-visits' to support the families and pass on her own experience. Part of Uta's motivation is her joy to get to see the babies.

Daria Schoser is one of 25 students at Apostelgymnasium in Cologne trained to apply first aid to other students. For those interested, the school plans to extend the qualification to the prevention of mobbing and acts of violence, a programme called 'Fit in Fair Play'.

Finally, Edith Schoser has for more than twenty years served as volunteer at the telephone help line of the Catholic Church Cologne. The line is meant for people in need or those just feeling lonely and looking for someone to talk to.

Carved in stone

Carl Schoser was stone carver in Steinhilben (Germany). The legacy of a work he carried out more than 160 years ago can still be seen in the Saint Pancras church in Steinhilben. It is a baptismal font made of red sandstone. The font was consecreated on 11 October 1846 and, since that day, more than 2600 children have been baptised at this font.

The same Carl Schoser is mentioned in the 'Court and Address Book of the Principality Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen' of 1844. Alongside the then mayor and treasurer, Carl is referred to as 'Saints custodian' ('Heiligenpfleger') of Steinhilben. While this is certain to be an honourable profession it is not quite clear what it actually meant.

Wanderlust & Wine Walk

Josef Schoser of Messkirch is a dedicated hiker. Josef has co-edited hiking guides for the Swabian Alb, the best known including 120 hiking tracks all along the Alb mountain range.

Between 1985 and 1997, Josef was also chairman of the Messkirch section of the Swabian Alb Club mainly organising hiking activities. Josef is still today a member of the board. In this function, he has guided a tour through the highest Alb mountains as recently as in July 2010.

Another long-standing member of the Messkirch Alb Club section is Josef's wife Zita Schoser. In March 2010, she was honoured for her 25 year membership in the club.

Another very enjoyable way of hiking is practised by Birgit Schoser of Mannheim. In May 2009 and in May 2010, she participated in the "Worms Wine Walk". Along the 14K track through vineyards, participants can taste wine offered by the local wine growers. Cheers!

Going to war

Many Schoser men went to war during the two World Wars. Some fell in battle.

Karl Schoser and Hermann Schoser are remembered on the Trochtelfingen cemetery as two of 128 inhabitants who 'did not come home' after the first or second World War. Hermann for example died in Northern France in March 1918 at the age of 20 after being wounded.

In the US, Horace Henry Schoser of Luzerne, Pennsylvania went to war towards the end of WWI. At the time, he and his wife Blanche had four small children: Grace M. (*1907), Ruth E. (*1909), Donald P. (*1911) and Elisabeth (*1916). Horace returned safely home. Some 24 years later in 1941, it was his son Donald who was enlisted to fight in WWII. Donald also survived the war and lived another, most probably more peaceful 42 years.

The poet

We are proud to announce that there is a poet among Schosers: Sam E. Schoser of Aztec, New Mexico. Let's go straight into the matter and present a sample of Sam's art from his blog!

The Storm

Clouds loom on the horizon
Thunder clashes
Winds blow
Loneliness takes hold


My mind goes to you
Safe in the distant land
Wondering if you think of me


Panic strikes
Fear sets in
Doubt builds like the dark clouds above
What if she doesn't think of me?
What if she has forgotten the wonderful feeling we share?


Then I see her face
And the fear yields
Like the sun returning after the storm
Peace settles in
And doubt drifts away

By Sam E Schoser (2006)