Surname Schäfges - Meaning and Origin

Schäfges: What does the surname Schäfges mean?

The surname Schäfges is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German word “shaf,” which means “shepherd.” This name likely originally referred to a person who herded, tended, or managed a flock of sheep.

The Schäfges surname is a patronymic one, meaning it is derived from an ancestor's first name. It was often used as an occupational name, as someone in the family was likely a shepherd or had another shepherd-related occupation. This name was primarily found in the Rhineland and Westphalia regions of Germany.

Today, there are numerous variants of the Schäfges surname in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. It was brought to Americas by German immigrants in the mid- to late-1800's.

Throughout its history, the Schäfges name has been associated with the idea of independence, hard work, and loyalty, as these were all important qualities to have to be a successful shepherd. In today’s society, those with the Schäfges surname may take pride in their family ties and history, while also being seen as creative, resourceful, and reliable people.

Schäfges: Where does the name Schäfges come from?

The last name Schäfges is most common in Germany today, with approximately 4,869 people registered under the surname Schäfges in 2013. However, it is also common in other countries, including Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

In Germany, the last name Schäfges is mainly found in the Westphalian region, which is in the northwestern part of the country and borders the Netherlands. People with the Schäfges name usually hail from or have ancestors who come from the Westphalian cities of Bocholt, Recklinghausen, and Münster.

The last name Schäfges is derived from the German word Schaf, which means "sheep." Thus, people with the surname Schäfges are likely to have ancestors who were associated with sheep herding, wool trade, or some other related activity.

Schäfges is also a surname of noble descent, with the last name first appearing in 14th century Bavarian records. Most likely, the Schäfges families in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland descended from a single ancestor, possibly a knight or aristocrat from the medieval era.

In addition to Germany, people with the Schäfges name can also be found in the United States. The surname is most commonly found in Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Variations of the surname Schäfges

The surname Schäfges has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Shafges, which is simply a different spelling of the same name. Additionally, other derivatives of this surname are Schaefges, Schaefgens, Schaefges, Schaeffges, Schaeffgens, Schaeffgens, Schaefferges, Schaefgen and Schaffges.

Most variants of this surname are derived from the Middle High German words Schaft (staff, club) and Ges (goose). This indicates the possibility that these families were connected with herding geese during the Middle Ages.

A more modern form of the name is Schaefers, which is the German term for "shepherd". This surname could have easily been adopted in Europe during the 1500s when sheep-farming was increasing in popularity.

Lastly, the surname Schäffer is a patronymic form of Schäfges that would be used when referring to the son of a Schäfges. For example, the son of Sylvester Schäfges might be referred to as Sylvester Schäffers.

In conclusion, the surname Schäfges has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Shafges, Schaefges, Schaefgens, Schaefges, Schaeffges, Schaeffgens, Schaefferges, Schaefgen, Schaffges, and Schäffers. Each of these variants offer insight into the original origin of the surname and potentially the places of origin for this ancient family name.

Famous people with the name Schäfges

• Janina Schäfges: Janina Schäfges is a German opera and concert singer, born in 1964. She studied at the Music Academy in Cologne and is celebrated for her mezzo-soprano singing career. She has appeared in operas in London, Vienna, Munich and other cities.
• Peter Schäfges: Peter Schäfges is a German city and regional councillor, born in 1986. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and has been representing the city of Bocholt since 2019.
• Ignatius Schäfges: Born in 1866, Ignatius Schäfges was a German chemist and industrialist. He was the founder of the Schäfges Brothers & Company brewery in Bocholt and is credited with developing several innovations during his lifetime, such as a bottling process and a pasteurization process.
• Michael Schäfges: Michael Schäfges is a professional association football player, who was born in 1978. He was part of the German U21 team in 1999 and has been capped for his country several times. He currently plays for the Bocholt-based SC Preußen 06 e.V.
• Friedhelm Schäfges: Friedhelm Schäfges is a molecular biologist, who was born in 1941. He works at the University of Cologne and is known for his work on the function of microorganisms and the structure of peptides and proteins.

Other surnames

Schäfgen