Surname Schaeper - Meaning and Origin
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Schaeper: What does the surname Schaeper mean?
The last name Schaeper is of German origin. It derives from the personal name Schape, which is derived from the Old German term schappa, meaning "shepherd". This occupational surname usually refers to someone who was responsible for tending sheep.
In German records, the name Schaeper appears as early as the sixteenth century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name comes from a 1480 record of one Konrad Schaeper who lived in Gudensberg, Germany.
By the nineteenth century, families with this surname had spread throughout Germany and central Europe. Today, it is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other parts of Germany, as well as in parts of the United States.
Those who bear the Schaeper surname tend to be descended from farming families, often with strong religious values. They are known for their appreciation of nature and traditional values. They may also have an abiding interest in local history and contemporary politics.
Overall, the last name Schaeper carries with it a deep sense of history and cultural identity. It is the type of surname that belonging to a particular place and culture, and its bearers are proud of their heritage and what it stands for.
Order DNA origin analysisSchaeper: Where does the name Schaeper come from?
The last name Schaeper is a common name throughout central Europe, particularly Germany. In fact, the surname is believed to have originated in the German region of Schwaben, in the state of Bavaria.
According to Ancestry.com, the top countries with the highest number of Schaeper surname holders are Germany (4190), the United States (2051), Switzerland (1073), Norway (609), and Denmark (413).
In the United States, the states of California, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York are the states with the most Schaeper surnames. The surname is also very common in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Alberta.
Schaeper is a popular name in Europe and North America due to mass migration of German families in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these families moved to America in search of better opportunities and a new way of life.
Due to the combination of mass migration, intermarriages, and naming conventions, today, Schaeper is a common last name in Germany, the United States, and throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Schaeper
Schaeper is a German and Dutch surname with a variety of different spelling variants and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of Schaeper are Schaper, Schaaper, Schäper, Schaepers, Schaeffer, Schäffer, Shaper, Shaffer, Shaeffer, and Shäfer.
Variants of Schaeper are mainly derived from the German occupational name Schäffer, which means "shepherd". The origin of the name Schaeper conceivably indicates the occupational status of a shepherd by the original bearer of the name.
In Dutch, Schaeper is also a spelling variant of Schaepers, which is derived from the German surname Schäper. This name is similar to Schäffer, in that it has the same meaning of 'shepherd', although it is more often associated with the Dutch language.
Other variants and surnames of German origin that are associated with the Schaeper surname include Schaepe, Schepper, Schepker, Schoepke and Skoepke. Each of these surnames have similar meanings and are derived from the German word 'schöpfen', meaning 'to dip (a spoon into a liquid)', indicating an occupational name for a 'cup-bearer'.
In South Africa, Schaeper is also an anglicized form of the Dutch surname Schaepers, which is derived from the German Schäper. This surname is more commonly spelled as Schaeperdjie, which means 'one who looks like a shepherd'.
In the United States, Schaeper is an Americanized form of the Dutch Schaser, derived from the German Schäper. This name is a combination of the German word 'schleppen', meaning 'to drag', combined with 'schäper', meaning 'shepherd'.
To summarize, Schaeper is a German and Dutch surname with many different spelling variants and surnames of the same origin, with most of them having an occupational meaning, such as 'shepherd' or 'cup-bearer'.
Famous people with the name Schaeper
- Erwin Juergen Schaeper: German politician and former Mayor of Remscheid, Germany.
- Thomas Schaeper: German football forward.
- Frank Schaeper: German product marketing manager, currently based in Berlin.
- Mogens Schaeper: Danish radio DJ and TV presenter.
- Charlotte Schaeper: German film director and producer.
- Lise Schaeper: German gymnast who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Friedrich Schaeper: German sports shooter who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
- Harold Schaeper: American Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Josef Schaeper: German Catholic Church leader, bishop of Aachen.
- Katharina Schaeper: German former Olympic alpine skier.
- Klaus Schaeper: German venture capitalist and entrepreneur.
- Jan-Philip Schaeper: German football goalkeeper.
- Karl Schaeper: German film director.
- Gottfried Schaeper: German physician.
- Julia Schaeper: German opera singer.
- Astrid Schaeper: German organist, international concert soloist and professor of music.
- Wilhelm Schaeper: German academic teacher and educator.
- Torsten Schaeper: German art/cultural theorist and sound/songwriter.
- Arnold Schaeper: German politician and former Deputy Mayor of Oberhausen, Germany.
- Wolf-Rüdiger Schaeper: German Judge of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany.