Surname Schäflein - Meaning and Origin
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Schäflein: What does the surname Schäflein mean?
The last name Schäflein is a German surname that is partially derived from a profession. 'Schäflein' translates directly to "sheepling". This is because it initially was used to denote a person who herded sheep, which was a type of occupation that was once quite common.
The spelling and pronunciation of the word 'Schäflein' have shifted over time: the origin of the name as it is known today is actually derived from the Middle High German word 'Schäfzelin', which is a diminutive form of the Old High German word 'Scaf'. This original Old High German word literally meant "sheep".
Given that the original Middle High German form of the word was a diminutive, it is likely to have been affectionately used as an occupational nickname for sheep herders to distinguish them from others with the same surname. Over time, the spelling has changed and evolved to what it is today.
The widespread use of the name Schäflein can even be seen in some U.S. census records from the 1800s. As sheep tended to be prevalent in American farming during that period, many German immigrants carried the Schäflein name with them to the New World.
In addition to the changes in spelling, the meaning of the surname has also shifted over time. While Schäflein may once have referred to a sheep herder, today there are multiple theories as to what it could mean, ranging from 'loyal subject' to 'small servant'.
Order DNA origin analysisSchäflein: Where does the name Schäflein come from?
The last name Schäflein is most commonly found in central and southwestern Germany and some parts of Austria today. This surname is one of the oldest in the German language and is derived from the German word for "shepherd". It is likely that the name originally denoted someone of that profession.
The first documented use of the name was in 1143, when a Wilhelm Schäflein first appears in a German church document from the town of Backnang, not far from Stuttgart. Over the centuries, the name spread throughout the region and by the 19th and 20th centuries, was found in towns and villages throughout the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as well as in neighbouring Austria.
Today, the surname Schäflein remains most common in those regions. Here, the name remains strongly associated with its origins and, in some cases, with particular villages that had a long history of families with the name. Many people who hear the name may also associate it with the German artwork of the same name by Albrecht Dürer, which further adds to its notoriety.
In addition to the central and southwest of Germany, the name is also found in small numbers in countries where significant numbers of Germanic immigrants settled, such as in the United States and Canada. However, the vast majority of contemporary Schäfleins still live in the areas in Germany and Austria where the name originated.
Variations of the surname Schäflein
The surname Schäflein is of German origin, and can be found in many different spellings and variants depending on the region where it is used. Variations and spelling combinations include Shaefflein, Schaeflein, Schaefly, Schaeflin, Schaeflin, Schaefelen, Schaefflin, Schaeffling, Schaffelin, Schaffelen, Schaefflen, Schafflein, Schaffling, Schaffly, Schaffley, Schoflein, Schoflin, Schofling, and Schoffelin. It may also have evolved from a shortened version of the initial ‘Sch’ combined with other parts of the word, so it may also appear as Schin, Schling, Schlyn, Sch'lin, and Sch’ly. Surnames derived from the same origin, but with other endings, such as ‘er’ or ‘mann’ include Schaeferer, Schafer, Schaffer, Schafferman, Schaffermann, Schaffman, and Schaffner.
The meaning behind the surname Schäflein is derived from its root word ‘Schaf’, meaning ‘sheep’. It would have been used as a nickname or surname for a person who owned or worked with sheep, or kept or tended herds of animals. The use of this surname is first recorded in the sixteenth century Germany with the arrival of the first settlers bearing this last name in the district of Kaub, Rhineland-Palatinate.
The surname Schäflein is common throughout German-speaking countries, and can also be found in the United States among descendants who emigrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Famous people with the name Schäflein
- Johannes Schäflein: German composer from the early 16th century who wrote primarily sacred music.
- Ulrich Schäflein: also known as Ulrich Knittelfelder, a German satirist, author, and political activist.
- Ludger Schäflein: a German jurist, classical philologist, and professor in the field of public law and ancient history.
- Klaus Schäflein: a German lecturer in commercial law and head of the Institute of European Law at the University of Constance.
- Johann Georg Schäflein: a well-known animal painter of the Baroque period from Nuremberg, Germany.
- Ullrich Schäflein: a German sculptor from Lauterbach, Germany, who specializes in animal sculptures.
- Heinrich Schäflein: a German theologian, who from 1735 until his death in 1743 was the pastor of the protestant church in Oberkochen, Germany.
- Hans Schäflein: a German film and television actor from Würzburg, Germany.
- Julius Schäflein: a Swiss-German philanthropist, who was the founder of the Henri Dunant Foundation in 1943.
- Paul Schäflein: a German architect and planner, who worked on a number of projects in the United States from the 1960s to the 1980s.