Surname Schaefges - Meaning and Origin

Schaefges: What does the surname Schaefges mean?

The last name Schaefges is of German origin. It is a patronymic name derived from the German personal name Scheffge or Schaffge. This personal name was derived from the old German words "scaffo" or "scaff" meaning "shepherd" and "ge" meaning "son of." Thus, Schaefges is translated to mean "son of the shepherd."

The surname Schaefges is found mainly in Northwest German areas in the present-day states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is likely that those bearing the name moved for work, as many of Schaefges' original bearers were shepherds and their sons.

The earliest record of the Schaefges surname, however, originates from the early 17th century in the city of Torun, Prussia, Germany. Here, a Gierhard Schaffeckes married Elisabeth Eincke in 1628. Thus, the surname has been in use in Germany for over 400 years.

Today, Schaefges is a rare German surname. However, family historians can still uncover a wealth of information about the bearer of the name, as it is a very distinct surname that has withstood the test of time.

Schaefges: Where does the name Schaefges come from?

The surname Schaefges is an old German name that originated from the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the old German word "schaff," which means "shepherd" or "protection." Today, the surname Schaefges is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands.

In Germany, the name Schaefges is found primarily in the Westphalian region, in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Saxony. Most of the people with the surname in this region trace their family history back to medieval German shepherds who settled in the area centuries ago.

In the Netherlands, the name Schaefges is found only in the Overijssel province and is believed to have arrived in the area from Germany in the mid-1800s. The Schaefges families who settled in the Overijssel province are known to have come from the Westphalian region of Germany.

Today, the Schaefges surname is not particularly common, except in Germany and the Netherlands. In both countries, it is generally associated with people of Dutch and German descent.

Variations of the surname Schaefges

The Schaefges surname is of Germanic origin, and is an occupational surname for a shoemaker. Around 20 variants of the Schaefges surname can be found, with the most common spelling variations being Schaeffges, Schaeffgens, Schaeffen, Schaeffer, Schafaiges, Shaffges, Schaffges, Schaefgen, Schafeges, Schäfges, Schäff, Schaff, Schäffer, Schefes, Scheff, Scheffers, Schefgen, Schiefes, Schiefgen, and Schiefges.

The variants of the Schaefges surname are the result of different spelling traditions and spellings of the same name, as well as of numerous dialects, as was very common in medieval times. Variations of the name are also strongly related to where the original bearer of the name lived and what local dialect was spoken at that time.

In addition to alternative spellings, the Schaefges surname is also found in several other surnames, including Scheff and Schuetz. These surnames are descended from the same original source, but were adapted to different regions, based on available language and phonetics. One example is Scheff, which derives from Schaff, a Germantic phrase meaning cobbler, or Schuetz, which is derived from Schütze, German for “protection” or “guard.”

Common surnames derived from the Schaefges surname include Schaefers, Shaffer, Shaffers, Shaft, Schaeffer, Schaffer, Schafers, Schaffer, Schaap, Schaffner, Seifert, and Sheffer. All of these surnames share a common origin, but began to differ depending on the region in which they were adapted.

Famous people with the name Schaefges

• Dudley Schaefges: American politician
• Jamie Schaefges: American sports journalist
• Aaron Schaefges: American football coach
• Joe Schaefges: American professional hockey player
• Steve Schaefges: American professional golfer
• Pat Schaefges: American musician
• Jackie Schaefges: American singer
• Stan Schaefges: American rock band drummer
• Ross Schaefges: American country music artist
• Robert Schaefges: German Olympic rower
• Stephan Schaefges: German footballer and National Team coach

Other surnames

Schaefgen