Surname Schaecher - Meaning and Origin

Schaecher: What does the surname Schaecher mean?

The last name Schaecher (or Schaechter) is of German origin and is a relatively rare surname. The name is derived from the German words Schrächer meaning “scrape” or “scratch” and schacher meaning “hacker” or “cutter.” The name may have referred to someone who performed manual cutting or scraping of materials, or to a dweller at a place noted for scraping or cutting activities.

In Germany, the name is most common in the eastern part of the country, especially around the area of the Elbe river. The name has traveled to countries outside of Germany with people emigrating from the country; the United States is the country where the name is seen most outside of Germany.

The Schaecher family in the U.S. can trace its ancestry back to the mid-1800s when members of the family began to immigrate out of Germany and settle down in the Midwest and along the East Coast. The family name can be seen in many businesses, from farming to manufacturing, and several well-known Schaecher family members have served their country in the military, in the medical field, and in politics.

While the exact origin of the Schaecher family name is not known, its German roots remain clear and the stories passed down of their strong work ethic and commitment to family stand as a testament to the Schaecher family's generational longevity.

Schaecher: Where does the name Schaecher come from?

The last name Schaecher is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries today. In the 2014 edition of the digitized telephone directory of the White Pages in Germany, around 8,711 people with the last name Schaecher were listed as living in Germany.

Outside of Germany and other German-speaking countries, the Schaecher last name is much less common. A 2008 database from the US Census Bureau lists just over 25 people in the United States with the last name Schaecher. There are also a small number of Schaechers living in other countries such as Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and Mexico.

In the vast majority of cases, the Schaecher last name has a German origin. In many cases, the first people to take this last name were founding members of a family. For example, as far back as the 16th century, a Hans Schaecher was the leader of a Central German family by that last name.

In the genealogical records of Germany, it is not uncommon to find descendants of the same family with the same last name. Today, there are many branches of the Schaecher family that have been established over the centuries.

The last name Schaecher is still a relatively rare name outside of Germany and other German-speaking countries. However, within those regions, it is still a relatively common last name and typically has a German origin.

Variations of the surname Schaecher

The surname Schaecher is derived from the German word “Schaecher,” which means “cutter.” Variants of this surname include Schaeffer, Schäffer, Schaefers, Schaefer, Schaaffers, Schaafers, and Schaefers. Other distinct, but related, spellings from other European languages include Schaecher (in German), Schaffer (in Dutch/Frisian), Scherer (in South German), Schäfer (in South German), Scheffer (in Dutch/Frisian), Scherf (in German and Dutch/Frisian dialects), Schiefer (in South German), Schiener (in South German), Schaar (in Dutch/Frisian), Schauer (in South German), Schaur (in South German), and Schaufel (in Dutch/Frisian).

The surname Schaecher is also found in combination with other surnames, such as Schäecher-Goedecke, Schäecher-Rolf, Schäecher-Paulus, Schäecher-Kroemer, Schäecher-Müller, Schäecher-Friedrich, Schäecher-Beckmann, and Schäecher-Schönberger. Additionally, there are several patronymic versions of the name, such as Schäechers, Schäechers, Schaechers, Schäffers, Schäffers, Schaaffers, Schaafers, Schaefers, Schäffleins, Schällers, Schällers, and Schälners.

In the United States, the surname Schaecher tends to be spelled as Schaeffer. There is also a significant population of Schaeffers in Pennsylvania, which account for the highest number of individuals with this surname in the U.S.

Overall, the various variants, spellings, and surnames related to Schaecher all point back to the same Germanic root. This, along with the vast number of related surnames, demonstrate the widespread use of this surname across Europe and the U.S., becoming a unifying factor for individuals with this family name.

Famous people with the name Schaecher

• Jena Schächter, American singer and producer.
• Roger Schächter, Luxembourgian International Master in chess.
• Harriet Schaeffer, Swiss opera singer and lyric coloratura soprano.
• Erwin Schächter, German actor, who was mainly active in film in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Ernst Schächer, German actor who appeared in over ninety film and television roles.
• Fritz Schächer, Swiss author and librettist.
• Justine Schächter, German jazz pianist.
• Frederik Schächer, Danish actor and singer.
• Konrad Schächter, Austrian sculptor who lived and worked in Vienna.
• Christoph Schächer, German actor who has starred in numerous German films since the early 1990s.
• Georg Schächter, Austrian classical composer and conductor.
• Willem Frederik Schächter, Dutch-born American medical doctor and surgeon.
• Hermann Schächter, German actor and theatre director.
• Rudolf Schächter, Austrian swimmer who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
• Sabine Schächter, German figure skater, who competed in pairs.
• Jasmin Schächter, German figure skater.
• Albert Schächter, French architect and interior designer.
• Heidi Schächter, German swimmer who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Sophie Schächter, Swiss swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Joe Schächter, Swiss cinematographer who did effects work on several major films.

Other surnames

SchaechnerSchaechtelSchaechteleSchaechterSchaechtl