Surname Scharp - Meaning and Origin
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Scharp: What does the surname Scharp mean?
The last name Scharp is of German origin. It is derived from the German word “sharp”, which means “dear” or “beloved”. This last name likely originated in a region of Germany known as the Rhineland.
The earliest known recording of this last name was in the 1500s in a region of modern-day Germany called Schleswig-Holstein. The records that exist suggest that it was likely a family living in the area who adopted this name.
Throughout the 1600s and 1700s the Scharp name continued to spread throughout western Germany. It is believed the family may have been among the many immigrants to the new world in the 1700s, however there is no record of whom or when.
In the 1800s, the Scharp name began to spread further, particularly in the United States, thanks largely to German immigrants escaping religious persecution. Today, the Scharp surname is found all over the world, with many remaining in Germany, as well as large populations in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
The Scharp name continues to be popular today, and many people proudly carry on the legacy of this long and illustrious family name. To the Scharps, sharp is more than just a name; it is a symbol of honour, strength, and legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisScharp: Where does the name Scharp come from?
The last name Scharp is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the World Names Public Profiler, Scharp is not particularly common in other countries. It is more commonly found in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany, with over one-sixth of the population. The second most common region for the Scharp name is Saxony, followed by Bavaria, Hesse, Bremen and Hamburg.
Over the centuries, the Scharp surname has spread beyond northern Germany. Small numbers of Scharps are found in several countries of eastern and central Europe, such as Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary, as well other European countries like France and Spain. In the United States, Scharp is not as widely used as in Germany and seems to be found primarily among families of German origin. It is also present in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Scharp family name is derived from the German words "scharp" and "scharpfen," which mean sharp, keen or keenly intelligent.
The Scharp surname is not particularly widespread in any country, and is more localized within Germany; it is not expected to become any more common in the future.
Variations of the surname Scharp
The surname Scharp is a Germanic name, deriving from the Old High German word "scarp". Variants of Scharp include Scharpe, Scharpf, Schearpf, Scherp, Scherpe, Scarp, Sharpe, Sharph, Sharp, Sharpp, Sharrp and Sharrpe.
In some cases, the surname has been anglicized as Sharpless, Sharples, Sharpleson, Sharplin, Sharplot, Sharply, Sharplyn, Sharpnack and Sharpies.
Other surnames with similar origins, although not necessarily derived from the same root as Scharp, include Scherf, Scherer, Scherrer, Scherr, Sherar, Sherer, Schreiber, Schreyer, Schroeer, Schriever and Schroeer.
In addition, some spellings of Scharp may be found in different European nations, such as Scharpe (in Denmark and Sweden), Scherp/Scharpe (in the Netherlands), and Scharpa (in Poland).
Scharp is also a rare first name, or given name, used in some countries around the world. The variant "Scharps" is also found as a first or middle name.
Famous people with the name Scharp
- Dan Scharp: American athlete who competed in the men's javelin throw event at the 2019 Pan American Games.
- Dominic Scharp: professional basketball player from Germany.
- Maureen Scharp: American film and television actress.
- Richard Scharp: American film and television actor.
- Kyle Scharp: Classical and jazz composer, singer, and actor.
- Joel Scharp: former professional American football offensive tackle in the National Football League who played for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Steve Scharp: Senior Vice President of Engineering and Product Design at iRobot.
- Alex Scharp: Dutch engineer, writer, and inventor.
- Lina Scharp: Swedish soprano opera singer.
- Axel Scharp: German painter and sculptor.