Surname Schaechter - Meaning and Origin
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Schaechter: What does the surname Schaechter mean?
Schaechter is a Jewish surname of Ashkenazic origin, derived from the Yiddish word “shakhes” meaning “stork”. It is likely that the Schaechter ancestors were part of the Jewish occupation of “shazmeisters”, who were in charge of the poultry business during the time of the Middle Ages.
This profession was prevalent among the Jews of Eastern Europe at the time and is likely where this surname was derived from. As storks were one of the adornments of people’s homes during this time, it can be assumed that the Schaechter ancestors were either in the business of providing storks, or may have had a connection to the birds in some other way.
The name itself is a German spelling of the Yiddish word “shakhas”, meaning “stork”. It is possible that the name was adapted to the more German-sounding version of the word when Jews migrated from the East to the German-speakinglands in the late Middle Ages and early Modern ages.
Regardless of the origin and history of the name, “Schaechter” has become an important and well-known Jewish surname today. The name can be commonly found amongst Jewish families of Eastern European descent, and serves as a reminder of their Eastern European roots.
Order DNA origin analysisSchaechter: Where does the name Schaechter come from?
The last name Schaechter is a relatively uncommon surname, but it is most commonly found today in the United States and Europe, particularly in countries with significant Jewish populations. In the United States, there are people with this name in all states, but the highest concentrations can be found in New York, Massachussetts, Pennsylvania, California, and Texas. In Europe, the surname can be found primarily in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. The last name is also found in other countries across the world, including Israel, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and Russia.
The origin of the Schaechter name is thought to be German, with some records indicating that it derives from the Jewish name “Schachterer” or “Schacheter.” It may also have been influenced by forms of the word “Schachter,” meaning “one who sings in the synagogue.” Additionally, some people with the name may have taken it from the city of Schachters in Germany.
The exact number of people with the Schaechter last name is not known, but estimates based on census records, public records, and family trees suggest that there are somewhere around 10,000 people around the world who bear the Schaechter name at the present day.
Variations of the surname Schaechter
The surname Schaechter is a variation of many other spellings and surnames that all share the same origin.
The most classic form of the surname is spelled Schachter, which originated in the Middle-High German word meaning “cottager.” This makes sense given that medieval cottagers would take on a unique surname. This spelling is found most prominently in Germany and Jewish families from Germany. It can also be found throughout the United States and Canada.
Variants of the name include Schaechter, Schacter, Schachter, Schaichter, Shachter, Shacter, Shackter, Shaechter, Schaech, and Shakter. These spellings can be found in places around the world, including countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Sweden, France and even the United Kingdom.
Additionally, many of the spellings of this surname can be seen merged with other surnames. Examples of this are Schaffter, Schechtman, Schuchman, and Schocher.
The Schaechter surname tends to have Jewish origins, as it was common for Jews to take on a unique surname in the middle ages. However, there is evidence that the surname existed in Germany before it was taken on by Jewish families, meaning that not everyone with the surname necessarily has Jewish origins.
Famous people with the name Schaechter
- Malka Schaechter: known as one of the most influential Yiddish poets of the 20th century.
- Erika Schaechter: a German figure skater and ice dancer.
- Mordechai Zvi Schaechter: an American rabbi and Rebbe who was the leader of the Bobover Hasidic sect.
- Michael Schaechter: an American entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.
- Moshe Schaechter: Israeli professor of bacteriology, microbiology, and immunology in the Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School of Jerusalem.
- Ingo Schaechter: an American-born chemist and professor of physical chemistry at the Technische Universität Berlin.
- Efraim Schaechter: an Austrian-Israeli historian, specializing in the history of the Jews in Austria and the Holocaust.
- Abel Schaechter: a Slovakian-American engineer, inventor, and businessman.
- Chaya Schaechter: an American Jewish educator and communal leader.
- Aharon David Schachter: an American-Israeli Orthodox rabbi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Rav Isaac Elchanan in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, and the executive editor of Beis Yisrael Magazine.