Surname Schaefgen - Meaning and Origin

Schaefgen: What does the surname Schaefgen mean?

The last name Schaefgen is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “schaffen”, meaning to create. The original spelling of the surname was “Schaffegen”, though variants of the spelling include “Schaffgen”, “Schaefgen”, and “Schafergen”. It is most commonly found in western Bavaria and Wuerttemberg in Germany, where it was first recorded in the 15th century.

Schaefgen has been suggested as the occupational name for a maker or shaper of either tools or weapons for war or hunting, or as an affectionate nickname for someone who performs well, from the verb “schaffen”, meaning “to create”. It has also been speculated that the surname may have been descriptive of a “master” or leader of craftsmen.

The site of the earliest records of the surname is the village of Niederwürzbach in the district of Ahrweiler, located in western Bavaria. The coat of arms for the Schaefgen family features a black shield with a silver griffin rampant, the griffin being a mythological animal composed of parts of numerous species, including the lion, eagle, and sometimes snakes.

Today, Schaefgen remains a very common surname in Germany and the United States, the latter primarily due to a large influx of German immigrants in the 19th century. It is also, on rare occasions, found in Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Schaefgen: Where does the name Schaefgen come from?

The last name Schaefgen is a German surname, and is more common in German-speaking countries. It is primarily found in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, although it has spread into other parts of Europe and the United States.

The origin of the name is likely derived from the Middle High German or Old High German word "scef", which means "sword", and "gen", which means "kinsman". Therefore, the name Schaefgen could have been used to describe a proud family line with a strong and prestigious legacy of using the sword, or a line of swordsmen. It could also be used to show that the family had a revered, noble heritage.

In the United States, the last name Schaefgen can be found in states such as Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio, as well as other parts of the country. As of the 2020 US Census, the name Schaefgen is ranked 28,295th and is one of the more rare surnames found in the United States.

Due to its Germanic origin, the family name Schaefgen is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, but its popularity is slowly growing in the United States. It is used to symbolize a strong, noble heritage of strength, pride, and honor.

Variations of the surname Schaefgen

Schaefgen is a surname of German origin. Variants of the surname include Schaeffen, Schaefen, Schaeffin, Schaefflin, Schaiffen, Schafein, Schaiffin, Schaffen, Schafin, Schaffin, Schafflin, Schaffman, Schaefman, Schafman, Shaffen, Sheffin and Shafferman.

The spelling for the surname Schaefgen varies widely to include Schaefgan, Schaefgen, Schaefgin, Schaefghen, Schaefgin, Schaegen, Schaeglin, Schaigin, Schaeffgan, Schaeffgen, Schaeffgin, Schaeffhen, Schaeffghen, Schaiffen, Schaiffgen, Schaiffhen, Schaiffghen, Schaiffgen, Schaiffgen and Schaiffgin.

Surnames of the same origin as Schaefgen include Schaf, Schaffner, Shafer, Schaft and Shaffer. Schaf is a Dutch and German occupational name, derived from the German word "Schaffe", meaning "laborer". Schaffner is a German occupational name that means "shepherd or porter". Shafer is an occupational name, derived from the Middle High German word "Schafer", meaning "shepherd". Schaft is a German occupational surname of someone who worked with leather and Schaffer is an occupational surname of German origin, derived from a Middle High German word, meaning "coachman".

Schaefgen is an uncommon name, with most bearers living in Germany. The surname can be found in records as far back as the 17th century.

Famous people with the name Schaefgen

• Jim Schaefgen: a former American basketball player and coach, who was the head coach at the University of Oregon and rockford College.
• Eddie Schaefgen: an American former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball for two seasons in 1974 with the California Angels.
• Theodore B. Schaefgen: a German-born American who was a World War I veteran and leader of the American Educational Society.
• Alfred Schaefgen: a German ornithologist, entomologist and printer from the early 19th century.
• Albert Schaefgen: an American silent film actor who appeared in over sixty films between 1915 and 1931.
• John G. Schaefgen: a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and Arkansas Senate from 1920 to 1924.
• Robert Schaefgen: a curler from Germany who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where he finished in 19th place.
• Charles Schaefgen: an American storyboard artist and designer who worked on films such as "Back To The Future Part III", and animated series including "The Powerpuff Girls".
• Anne Schaefgen: a German historian and professor of history at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz.
• Carl Schaefgen: an American geologist and college professor, known for his contributions to the field of paleontology.

Other surnames

Schaefges