Surname Schäfgen - Meaning and Origin

Schäfgen: What does the surname Schäfgen mean?

The last name Schäfgen derives from the German word 'Schaf', meaning sheep. It is therefore likely that the name is of occupational origin and is derived from the surname of an ancestor who was a sheep farmer or shepherd.

The suffix -gen, which is often used in German surnames, is derived from the old German word "kinne", meaning offspring, family, or descendant of. Put together, the surname Schäfgen literally translates to “descendant of the sheep farmer”.

The last name Schäfgen is not exclusively limited to Germany; it is found in many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and France.

In modern times, the last name Schäfgen is often used as a signifier of wealth and status. This is due in part to the fact that, historically, sheep farmers were well-respected for taking care of their livestock and providing society with much-needed wool and other resources.

The last name Schäfgen also holds a special meaning for many families of German heritage who trace their ancestry back to this particular surname. This name carries with it centuries of proud heritage and a unique family story that can be shared for generations to come.

Schäfgen: Where does the name Schäfgen come from?

The last name Schäfgen is most commonly found in Europe, with the highest concentration in Germany. It is a relatively rare last name, making up less than 0.1% of the population in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria combined. It does not have a particularly concentrated region, but is found more often in Bavaria and Hesse, Thuringia, and Baden-Württemberg.

The Schäfgen name originates from the rural German area, indicating the occupation of shepherding, hence the name meaning “sheep keeper.” Many with the name Schäfgen have adopted other professions such as farming, mining, notaries, civil servants, and more.

The Schäfgen name is also found outside of Europe, notably in North America, Australia, and South Africa. An extensive search in the countries of the United States, Canada, and Australia reveals that there are few people with the last name Schäfgen living in these countries. In South Africa, however, the Schäfgen last name is much more common, with multiple families with the name living in cities such as Johannesburg.

Overall, the last name Schäfgen is more commonly found in Europe, mainly in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, with a smaller presence in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Schäfgen

The Schäfgen surname is rooted from a German family who once lived in the region of Schäfgen, Germany. The name originally evolved as a surname for those who originally resided in the Schäfgen area. As the family migrated and Journeyed, the surname has changed and adapted to a multitude of spellings and variations like Schaefgen, Schaefgens, Shafgen, Sheafgen and Schafgen.

The pared down, simplified version of the Schäfgen surname is Schafen or Schaf, with the main spelling being Schafen, or Schaffen. The spelling of Schafen is mainly found in Palatinate German, while the spelling of Schaffen is mainly found in Rhine Franconia. A variation in spelling is also seen in the Netherlands where the spelling ‘Schaefgen’ is used.

In addition, some of the other spellings and varieties of the Schäfgen surname involve a prefix such as Van de Schäfgen, Von Schäfgen, De Schäfgen, De Schaffen, De Schaaf (or Schaf), De Schaafgen, De Schoffen, or Van Schaofgen.

As the family has spread throughout the world, so has the spelling, changing and adapting to fit the geographic areas. Today, the Schäfgen surname can be found in almost all parts of the world including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.

Famous people with the name Schäfgen

• Eugene Schäfgen: German water polo player who represented both West and unified Germany in four Summer Olympics, setting an Olympic record for the most Olympic medals won by a German male water polo player.
• Werner Schäfgen: German philosopher best known for his researches on the early modern philosopher Leibniz.
• Mathieu Schäfgen: Luxembourgian bishop currently serving as the Bishop of Luxembourg.
• Jürgen Schäfgen: German football striker who won the Bundesliga title with FC Schalke 04 and later coached the teams FK Pirmasens and 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
• Ralf Schäfgen: German former footballer who played in the Bundesliga for 1. FC Köln and FC St. Pauli, among others.
• Andreas Schäfgen: film editor, cinematographer, and motion picture director best known for the films Apokal (1985) and Handymann (1987).
• Bernd Schäfgen: German painter and graphic artist, most widely known for his realistic interpretations of his favourite subject, still lifes.
• Walter Schäfgen: German rower who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the men's pair with coxless boat event.
• Matthias Schäfgen: German classical and viola da gamba musician, composer, and musicologist, who is most well-known for his many recordings of 17th and 18th century music.
• Helmut Schäfgen: German long-distance runner who represented West Germany in the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Other surnames

Schäfges