An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schuster

by Friedrich Kluge

Schuster, m., ‘shoemaker, cobbler,’ from the equiv. MidHG. schuoch-sûtœre, m.; OHG. and MidHG. also merely sûtâri, sûtœ̂re, m., ‘cobbler’; corresponding to AS. sûtêre, Northern E. and Scotch souter. Borrowed from Lat. sutor, with a G. suffix denoting the agent; sûtâri, as a genuine Teut. derivative from the Teut. root sī̆w, ‘to sew,’ discussed under Saum and Säule, is not probable. The genuine G. word for the UpG. Schuster is MidHG. schuochwürhte (allied to wirken), which has been preserved only in the proper names Schuchart or Schubert.