Surname Scherrer - Meaning and Origin
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read moreScherrer: What does the surname Scherrer mean?
The last name Scherrer is a Germanic name stemming from the Middle High German ‘scher’ or the Old High German ‘skero’, meaning ‘cutter’. This term also appears as ‘Scharrer’, and ‘Scharer’ and is thought to have originally referred to a person either who worked as carpenter or craftsman who cut and carved wood, or to one who cut and harvested grain and hay. It was also popular in Austria, Switzerland and Bavaria, the surname being one of several names derived from occupations.
The name is also a derivative of the Latin term ‘scerru’, meaning ‘lathe’, and would have been a reference to someone who worked with a specialized, hand-held tool for cutting, sanding, and smoothing wood. It is possible that a person from either of these trades eventually took the name as a surname. The spelling of these names also varied depending on the region, with “Schacher” being a popular spelling in Switzerland, and “Schaderer” a popular spelling in northern Germany.
Both in its original form and modern variations, the name ‘Scherrer’ is still in usage today. It may also be found as a first name in some countries, particularly in southern Germany and northern Austria. There are also people with the last name who have emigrated to the United States and other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisScherrer: Where does the name Scherrer come from?
The last name Scherrer is most commonly found today in Germany and Switzerland. It is thought to have originated in the area of Basel in Switzerland, and indeed is still quite common there today, particularly around the city of Basel itself. The Scherrer family was likely founded by a small group of families from the Basel region, during the Middle Ages, and the name has since spread throughout Germany and Switzerland. It is also found in small numbers in other European countries such as France and Austria.
In the United States, people with the last name Scherrer are likely descendants of German and Swiss immigrants. The name can be found in various parts of the country, particularly in states which had relatively high numbers of German and Swiss immigrants in the early 20th century. These states include New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Although it is not particularly widespread, the Scherrer name is still very much alive today. It is often found amongst those of German and Swiss descent, both in Europe and in the United States. Whether you are a long time member of the Scherrer family or just someone who is curious about their last name, you can be sure that you are amongst many today who have the same last name.
Variations of the surname Scherrer
The surname Scherrer can be spelled and pronounced in various ways due to different dialects and regional variations. In Germany, for example, it is usually spelled “Scherrer” with two rs. In Austria, it may appear spelled with a double s in the middle or with three rs. Some variations of Scherrer include:
Scharrer/Sharrer/Scharrer: This is a German or Jewish (Ashkenazic) form of Scherrer with a slightly different pronunciation and spelling. The alternate spelling of "Scharrer" is particularly found in Prussia and Poland and is typically thought to have different origins.
Scheirr/Sheirr: This is another common spelling of Scherrer, found in parts of Germany and Austria.
Schirr/Shirr: This is a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) variant of Scherrer with the final “r” dropped. This spelling is typically found in the more Bavarian areas.
Sharer/Shayr: This is an Anglicized, Americanized form of the surname Scherrer. This variant is particularly found among people of German descent, who may have changed the spelling of their name to make it easier to pronounce in the U.S.
The surname can also have numerous variations depending on how it is translated on paper. It may be written as Sharrer, Scherer, Schirrer, Shearer, or Schearer. It may also have other variations, such as Schürer, Schärer, Skerrer, Scharringer, Scharer, Schering, and Sharratt.
It is thus evident that the surname Scherrer has many spelling variations, some of which have different origins and pronunciations. These different forms are all related to the same ancestor and can be traced back to the same origin.
Famous people with the name Scherrer
- Ueli Scherrer: A Swiss professional skier, two-time gold medalist in Ski World Cup Giant Slalom, and three-time Olympic gold medalist in Giant Slalom.
- John E. Scherrer: The former quarterback for Purdue University and the Indiana Hoosiers.
- Sascha Scherrer: Swiss competitive show jumper who has competed in the Olympics.
- Timothy Scherrer: Para snowboarder and winner of several Para Olympic medals.
- Henry Scherrer: Swiss alpine skier who represented Switzerland at the 1932 and 1936 Winter Olympics.
- Eugen Scherrer: German actor who starred in the movie "Der Salzbaron".
- Alex Scherrer: Former British Olympic hurdler and record holder in the 110 metres hurdles.
- Byambasuren Sharav: Mongolian filmmaker and director, best known for his Academy Award-winning documentary about traditional Mongolian music, “The Story of the Weeping Camel”.
- Sabina Scherrer: Swiss ski jumper who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
- Jacques Scherrer: French politician who served as France's Minister of the Armed Forces between 1977 and 1981.