Surname Schafranitz - Meaning and Origin
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Schafranitz: What does the surname Schafranitz mean?
The last name Schafranitz is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname derived from the German word “schaffern”, meaning “to manage, to administer”. This surname likely refers to someone who was a business manager or administrator outside of their original family’s line of work.
The Schafranitz surname is also believed to be an occupational surname, as the common usage of surnames amongst Jews only became relevant in the eighteenth century when Jews had to register an official surname due to the Czar of Russia’s legislation. This was in place to assist the military draft process and keep a record of the population.
Surprisingly, this surname is only found in Germany and Austria and is extremely rare. In fact, the total population of Schafranitzs in the United States is less than 50. As individuals bearing the name continue to move across the world, it will be interesting to see how the Schafranitz surname is changed and adopted over time.
Given its near-extinction, Schafranitz is a unique and notable surname. It likely will be a special last name to those fortunate enough to bear it, embodying the importance of administration and management, values that were traditionally placed on business managers during the time the surname originated.
Order DNA origin analysisSchafranitz: Where does the name Schafranitz come from?
The last name Schafranitz is most commonly found in the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland today. It is also present in smaller numbers in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The origin of the Schafranitz surname can be traced to the German word schaf, meaning “sheep”. This likely refers to someone who raised and looked after sheep. An alternate meaning of the surname is “shave master”, which could denote a barber or someone who trimmed sheep’s wool or hair.
In the United States, the last name Schafranitz is particularly prevalent in the California, New York, and Wisconsin areas. It is likely that the Schafranitz family first immigrated to the United States sometime during the 19th century, with the earliest known mention of a Schafranitz family member in the US being registered in New York in 1877.
The name Schafranitz continues to be used by many families living in these areas and beyond today, providing a long and distinctive lineage for its bearers.
Variations of the surname Schafranitz
Schafranitz is an old German surname with various spelling variations. Common variants of this surname include Schaffranitz, Schaffranitze, Schaffranits, Schaffranic, Schaffranick, Schaffranicki, Schaffranicz, and Schaffranik. Other more rare variations are Schaufranich, Schafran, Schafrannik, Schawfranich, Shaffranicz, and Szaffranicz.
The surname Schafranitz has many origins. It could have originally been derived from the Middle High German word "schaffern," which means "shepherd." Thus, Schafranitz might have been a nickname for someone who was involved in the shepherding of sheep. Alternatively, it could have been derived from the Middle High German word "schaffen" which means "to create." In this case, the surname could have referred to someone who was a craftsman or artist.
The Schafranitz surname is not that common and is primarily found in the German-speaking parts of Europe. Some Schafranitz descendants can also be found in North America.
The Schafranitz name has also been found to have some notable bearers. For example, the famous Portuguese-born German sculptor and graphic artist Vitor Hugo Schafranitz was born with this name. The Austrian cosmologist and philosopher Josef Schafranitz also had this surname. Other notable members include the Austrian architect and urban planner Wilhelm Schafranitz and the Croatian mathematician and philosopher Dimitri Schafranitz.
Famous people with the name Schafranitz
- Gabriella Schafranitz: Gabriella is a Swedish ballerina who is a soloist at the Royal Swedish Theater. She was a prizewinner at the Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition in 2011 and has been featured in the media.
- Ingrid Schafranitz: Ingrid is a Swedish actress best known for her roles in the films Nickard & Alexandersson and The Righteously Righteous Deviants. She has also appeared on the stage, performing in Sweden's National Theater and in the Royal Swedish Opera House.
- Aino Schafranitz: Aino is a Finnish opera singer who is currently a soloist at the Finnish National Opera. She has performed in many international productions in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.
- Juha Schafranitz: Juha is a Finnish actor and director who has appeared in a number of films, television series, and stage productions. Most recently, he directed the film Black Out, which won several awards in 2017.
- Kenneth Schafranitz: Kenneth is an American attorney and the founder of Schafranitz & Associates, Inc. He has successfully represented numerous clients in fields such as real estate, civil litigation, and even personal injury cases.
- Henry Schafranitz: Henry is an Australian cinematographer whose credits include the films Heartless, Ejecta, and The Retreat. He has also worked as a director of photography on numerous commercials and music videos.
- Chad Schafranitz: Chad is an American musician who is the lead singer and guitarist of the band TNWTO. He has performed in Canada, Europe, Australia, and the United States and was twice featured on the MTV show Alternative Nation.