Surname Schaerffer - Meaning and Origin
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Schaerffer: What does the surname Schaerffer mean?
The last name Schaerffer is of German origin and has multiple possible meanings depending upon its spelling and the region of origin. The most common meaning is "armourer" or "artilleryman". This interpretation comes from the German words "scharm" meaning "shield" and "werfer" meaning "thrower" or "launcher", implying a person who made armour or firearms.
Another possible interpretation is that the name could refer to a person who worked in a 'Scharfensee', which is an area of water used for fishing or recreation in Germany. This meaning would come from the German words "scharf", meaning "sharp," and "see," meaning "lake."
The spelling of Schaerffer can also imply a different meaning, as it also translates to “sharpfisted” or “stingy,” making it more likely to be found in Austria or other Germanic countries.
Overall, the last name Schaerffer is an interesting one. Its multiple meanings could range from someone who is insightful and good with figures of speech to an armourer or a thrifty person. Regardless, it is an intriguing name that harkens back to its German roots.
Order DNA origin analysisSchaerffer: Where does the name Schaerffer come from?
Schaerffer is a relatively uncommon surname today, but can be found in countries around Europe, such as Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in the United States.
In Europe, the variations of Schaerffer (Scharf, Scharfe, Sharf, etc.) are most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Austria. People with this surname can also be found in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
In the United States, Schaerffer emigrated from Europe in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, people with the Schaerffer surname are most commonly found in places where German immigrants tended to settle, such as Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Ohio. It can also be found in states with larger concentrations of German populations such as Wisconsin and Texas.
In general, the people with this name carry with them a rich history of family and Germanic cultural heritage, though there are likely to be a number of variations on the spelling and pronunciation of this surname in various countries.
Variations of the surname Schaerffer
The surname Schaerffer is a German patronymic surname derived from the given name Schäffer, an occupational surname meaning ‘shepherd’. It may be spelled ‘Schäffer’, ‘Schaefer’, ‘Schaffer’, ‘Schafer’, ‘Schaaf’, ‘Schaff’, ‘Schaffrath’, ‘Shafer’, and ‘Shaffer’.
Other variants of the Schaerffer surname are found in other countries, including the Austrian-German variant Schafferer or Schafferrer, the French-German variant of Schaffart, and the Czech variant Skřípal.
Schaerffer is also a variant of the French Schaerff, and may be found in Spanish and Italian as variants of Scharffenberg or Sharfenberg, both of which are derived from German sharf meaning ‘hard’ or ‘strong’.
Other variant spellings found in the German-speaking countries include Schaefers, Schaefermann, Schaffler, Schaffrin, Schaffmann, Schaffner, Schafheutle, Schafle, Schafler, and Schauffer. Variations from other countries include Schnaffner (Austria), Schaffman (Poland), and Schafor (Romania).
The surname Schaerffer may also be found in various anglicized forms, such as Shafter, Shaftner, Shafer, Shaffer, Sheffer, Sheffner, Sheftner, and Skeffner.
The Schaerffer surname is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, and Canada, with Germany being the homeland of the name.
Famous people with the name Schaerffer
- Jeff Schaffer: American television producer, writer, and director.
- Pierre Schaeffer: French composer.
- Alfred Schaerffer: German ethnologist.
- Jean Schaeffer: French pianist and professor of the Conservatoire National de Musique.
- Max Schaeffer: German painter and illustrator.
- Loretta Schaerffer: Swiss actress.
- Dale Schaeffer: American Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Alfred Schaeffer: German physicist and Nobel laureate.
- Hugo Schaerffer: German landscape painter.
- Franz Schaeffer: German theologian and philosopher.
- Daniel J. Schaerffer Jr.: American politician.
- Robert Schaeffer: American author and journalist.
- Joseph Schaerffer: American ornithologist.
- André Schaerffer: French theater director.
- Mary Schaeffer Warren: American wildlife artist and conservationist.
- Wilhelm Schaeffer: German architect and scholar.
- Martin Robert Schaerffer: American mathematician.
- Hans-Joachim Schaeffer: German violinist, composer, and conductor.
- Michael Schaerffer: German wrestler.
- Kramer Schaerffer: American professional basketball player.