Surname Schaeffler - Meaning and Origin
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Schaeffler: What does the surname Schaeffler mean?
The last name Schaeffler is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "schaeffeler," meaning "one who is paid weekly." The first known use of this surname was in the 12th century when one Hans Schaffler of Bavaria was recorded.
The Schaeffler family name is mainly associated with industrialization, particularly bearing production and automotive engineering. The family is linked with the German industrial giant INA-Schaeffler Group. They are renowned for inventing double row self-aligning ball bearings, which are used in the majority of motor vehicles today.
The surname is also commonly seen across Germany in the state of Bavaria and the larger Rhineland region. It has also spread to other lands, notably to North America and the United Kingdom.
However, the name Schaeffler can also refer to a host of other occupations, such as an animal keeper, a miner, or even a so called craftsperson who made religious objects.
Known for possessing a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, the Schaeffler family name continues to be associated with bearing production and automotive engineering nearly 700 years after its origins in Medieval Bavaria.
Order DNA origin analysisSchaeffler: Where does the name Schaeffler come from?
The surname Schaeffler is most common today in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as among descendants of German-speaking immigrants in the United States, Canada, South America, and elsewhere. It is also quite popular in Scandinavia, as well as in Spain, France, and Italy.
The Schaeffler name is generally of German origin and is made up of the elements Schaeffl (a word for trader or merchant) and er (a noun suffix meaning "one who does or makes"). The surname is thought to have originated with a medieval German medieval trader or merchant, probably in the late 12th century.
The Schaeffler family has long been prominent in the crafts and trades. One of the best-known Schaefflers was Hans Schaeffler, the founder of a well-known German clothing manufacturer, Schaeffler Group. In the past, the Schaefflers have produced many noted leaders, clerics, politicians, scholars, and artists.
Today, the Schaeffler family is still prevalent in industry and commerce. Schaeffler Group, now one of the world's leading automotive and industrial suppliers, was founded by Hans and remains a family-run business to this day. Other members of the Schaeffler family are active in fields such as medicine, publishing, banking, and the military.
Given its geographic spread and long history of success in industry and the trades, it is no surprise that the surname Schaeffler is still quite common in many countries around the world today.
Variations of the surname Schaeffler
Schaeffler is a German surname of locational origin. It is derived from the various place names throughout Germany in areas such as Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. Variants and alternate spellings of the surname include Schaefler, Schaeffer, Schaffler, Schaffer, Scheffler, Sheffler, and Schafferlein.
Common surnames related to Schaeffler include Schaffner, Schafler, Schaffel, Schafner, Schaeffer, Sheffer, Scheffer, and Sheffler. These surnames are derived from the same root word “schaffen” which translates to “create” or “make” and originally referred to someone who worked as a craftsman.
Schaeffler is also an occupational surname given to people who worked in some capacity related to the fur trade. It is derived from the Middle High German word “Schaefer”, which means “shepherd” or “hunter”, and can be found in areas of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony. Variations can include Schaefer, Shaeffer, Sheffer, Schaffer, Schafer, and Schneider.
The surname Schaeffler is also used as a Jewish surname, derived from the Yiddish “Shafer”, meaning “cobbler or shoemaker” and can be found in areas such as Austria and Hungary. Variations of the name spellings include Schafer, Schaefer, and Schaffer.
In addition, Schaeffler is a surname of Dutch origin. Variations here include Shaeffler, Schaefer, and Schaffer, and the meaning is derived from the Dutch word “schaffen”, which translates to “make”.
Finally, Schaeffler is also a Swedish surname, derived from the Swedish work “skaffare”, which refers to someone who is responsible for acquiring items or services for their employer. Variations here include Skaffler, Skaffar, and Schmidt.
Famous people with the name Schaeffler
- Georg Schaeffler: is a German philanthropist and businessman. He is the majority shareholder of the Schaeffler-Group, a manufacturer of ball bearings and automotive parts.
- Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler: often described as one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in Germany, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler is the widow of Georg Schaeffler, and together they created the Schaeffler-Group.
- Georg-Friedrich Schaeffler: the son of Maria-Elisabeth and Georg Schaeffler, Georg-Friedrich is the vice-chairman of the board.
- Maximilian Schaeffler: son of Georg and Maria-Elisabeth, Maximilian is a German entrepreneur and a member of the Schaeffler-Group board.
- Andreas Schaeffler: the youngest son of Georg and Maria-Elisabeth, Andreas is a German entrepreneur and a board member of the Schaeffler-Group.
- Frank Schaeffler: a German politician representing the Free Democratic Party and a Member of the Bundestag for district of Lower Franconia from 2013–2017.
- Christian Schaeffler: an Austrian film and television actor, musician and composer, known for his roles in such films such as The White Ribbon and The Dark Valley.
- Julia Schaeffler: a German actress known for her roles in such films as Barb Wire and Beyond the Woods.
- Julia Schaeffler (operator): an Austrian photographer, filmmaker and master robotics engineer.
- Armin Schaeffler: a German cultural anthropologist and a professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.