Surname Schäfferer - Meaning and Origin
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Schäfferer: What does the surname Schäfferer mean?
The surname Schäfferer is an occupational surname of German origin, derived from the word 'Schäffer' meaning a shepherd. The suffix 'er' indicates that the individual is engaged in or performs the occupation of a shepherd.
In Germany, the profession of a shepherd is of ancient origin and has largely been a role taken by the country’s rural inhabitants. The job of the Schäfferer was to look after herds of animals such as sheep, cows, and horses and to take care of them. The occupation was especially common in the rural southwest of Bavaria, where many of the present-day holders of the surname are found.
The Schäfferer surname also added descriptive characteristics to the individual recorded in documents, such as their occupation, origin, or physical features. By the beginning of the 19th century, the use of surnames became widespread amongst the peasantry, making it increasingly important to have a distinctive and easily recognizable name.
As a result, the Schäfferer surname was adopted more widely, with other families taking on the name to make themselves more distinct. In 1871, Germany became a unified nation-state and the name Schäfferer became even more widespread, appearing in records from throughout the country.
Today, the Schäfferer surname is still associated with agriculture and shepherd-type occupations, although it is now much more common amongst the general population. It continues to be used throughout Germany, and its popularity has also spread across the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSchäfferer: Where does the name Schäfferer come from?
The last name Schäfferer is common today in several German-speaking countries, including Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. It is also found in the United States, Canada, and many other countries throughout the world.
This surname is of German origin and is derived from the word “schäffern”, which literally translates to “shepherd”. This indicates that the original bearer of the name is someone who was responsible for the care of sheep and other animals.
In Germany, the greatest concentration of individuals with the name Schäfferer can be found in Bavaria, where it ranked 683rd in 2020. Other German states with populations of Schäfferers include Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westfalia, and Hesse.
In the United States, the states with the highest population of Schäfferers were Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York, according to the US Census of 2020. California, Massachusetts, and Illinois were also among the top ten states with the highest number of Schäfferers.
Today, people with the name Schäfferer can be found in many different countries outside of the German-speaking countries. The name remains a popular choice for those of German descent, whether they live in the US, Canada, or elsewhere in the world.
Variations of the surname Schäfferer
The surname Schäfferer is derived from the Middle High German word ‘scafere’, which can be translated to ‘mason’ or ‘carpenter’. This occupational name was given to people who worked as masons or carpenters in Germany during the 12th and 13th centuries. Over the years, the surname has evolved and altered in spelling, though it has retained its original German roots.
The variant spellings of the surname Schäfferer include Schafferer, Schaefferre, Schafferre, Schaeferre, Schaefere, Schaffere, Schafner, Scherer, Shafferre, Schaffer and Shaffere.
Surnames with similar origins to Schäfferer include Schauler, Schalper, Schaller, Schaller, Schauer, Schawer and Schauer.
Common nicknames and variations of Schäfferer include Shahafe, Schaffe, Schafa, Shafa and Schaaf.
In addition to the many variant spellings and surnames related to Schäfferer, there are also a few other names that are unrelated and unconnected to the surname. Some of these include Schiffer, Scherer and Schaefer.
The presence of Schäfferer in different countries around the world, shows the name's spread and size, but the spelling variation of the surname in each country differs according to the language and its alphabet. For instance, in the UK the spelling is Schaffer, whereas in the USA the spelling is Shaffer, and in other countries such as Austria, Poland, and Hungary the spelling is Schaeffer. In France, the spelling of Schäfferer is Schawer.
Overall, the Germanic surname Schäfferer has been through several changes, though it has kept its origin and meaning. It has produced a number of variants, spellings, surnames, nicknames and variations, and has spread around the world.
Famous people with the name Schäfferer
- Chris Schäfferer: professional snowboarder and instructor from Austria.
- Manfred Schäfferer: a German politician who is a Member of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg and a member of the Social Democratic Party.
- Max Schäfferer: Austrian competitive swimmer, who represented his native country at the Summer Olympics in 2000.
- Paul Schäfferer: prominent German theologian and Roman Catholic priest.
- Ludwig Schäfferer: a German Goldsmith, who founded a goldsmith business that was started in 1697 and is still in operation today.
- Stephan Schäfferer: a former German football defender who had a ten-year professional career.
- Boris Schäfferer: a German computer scientist who has focused on fault tolerance, redundancy, real-time and embedded systems.
- Wolf Schäfferer: a German-born Swiss rally driver in the World Rally Championship from 1998 to 2002.
- Norbert Schäfferer: an Austrian sprint canoer who competed in the early 1990s and has won multiple national titles.
- Anton Schäfferer: an Austrian cross country skier who competed at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics and has won numerous international and national titles.