Surname Scharpff - Meaning and Origin
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Scharpff: What does the surname Scharpff mean?
The surname Scharpff is a German locational surname derived from the Old High German word “spehar” meaning “spark”. It was a common name given to people from the small village of Scharpff which was located in the Bavarian area of Germany near the town of Griesbach. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that those born with the surname of Scharpff had the ability to “spark” others, particularly when it came to matters of leadership, relationships, and business.
The surname Scharpff has taken on many different spellings throughout the years, as people immigrated to different countries and languages changed. Spellings of the name in the United States include Scharpf, Sharif, Sharpe, Scharff, Scharf, Scorph, and Sharpey.
The Scharpff surname can also be seen as a marker of social status for many with the name. During the Industrial Revolution, those carrying the name Scharpff were generally seen as successful businessmen and landowners. An example of this is the Scharpff family in Cambridge, England. The Scharpffs were a wealthy family of brewers, merchants, booksellers and bakers who came to Cambridge in the mid-19th century.
Overall, the surname Scharpff is an interesting one that is strongly rooted in German culture and history. From its small beginnings in Scharpff, Germany, to its modern usage as a family name across different countries, the Scharpff surname is a sign of strong leadership and success.
Order DNA origin analysisScharpff: Where does the name Scharpff come from?
The last name Scharpff is most common today in Germany, with the highest concentrations found in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Hamburg, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The surname is also found in other countries, particularly in Europe and North America.
The surname has Germanic roots, and is derived from the medieval personal name Sharpf. It may have been descriptive in origin, referring to someone sharp or alert. The name was also likely used as an occupational surname, representing someone who worked in the armaments trade.
In Germany today, Scharpff is considered a rare to uncommon surname. It has a geographical distribution concentrated in the southern part of the country, and is much less common in northern regions. The surname is also somewhat popular in Switzerland, as well as in various other countries of Europe.
In the United States, the surname is most frequently found in California, Texas, Louisiana, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Other countries in North and South America, as well as Australasia also have varying but comparatively small numbers of Scharpff's.
Those bearing this name can trace their ancestry to the various locations in which the surname is found, and likely have Germanic roots. The name also likely has some historical importance, as it likely denoted an occupation in the armaments industry.
Variations of the surname Scharpff
The surname Scharpff is a German variant of the name Scharpf, which is derived from the Old German word "sharph," meaning "keen" or "sharp" in English. It can be spelled various ways, such as Scharf, Scharff, Scharpf, and Scharpfe.
This surname is found throughout Germany and also has variants in several other countries, such as Scharpov in Russia, Scharpfe in Belgium, and Scharphors in the Netherlands.
Variations of the Scharpff surname have been anglicised in various ways, from Sharp in Scotland to Sharpe in England and Sharpf in the United States. In Scotland, the Sharp spelling is often used in combination with the Mc prefix, forming surnames such as McSharp, MacSharp, and McSherp.
In some cases, the surname has also been shortened to Scharf and Schaf, while in other cases it has been combined with the suffixes -er, -ers, and -in, resulting in variants such as Scharpfer, Scharpfers, and Scharpfin.
Other variants of the Scharpff surname include Sharf, Scharff, Schlesser, Scharp, Scharpfen, Scharphaupt, Scharfenacker, and Scharrer.
This surname has also produced numerous variations when it has been combined with other surnames, such as Scharpff-Heinrich, Scharpff-Dünge, Scharpff-Hübner, Scharpff-Hecht, Scharpff-Lindt, Scharpff-Martin, and Scharpff-Kunz.
Famous people with the name Scharpff
- Harry Scharpff, Jr., American diplomat and Ambassador to Mozambique.
- Margot Scharpff, German film actress best known for her roles in 'Phantom' and 'Der Schneemann'.
- Theodore Scharpff, Swiss artist and art conservator.
- Christopher Scharpff, former chairman and CEO of C&A stores.
- Franz Scharpff, German architect and urban planner.
- Edeltraut Scharpff, German television actress best known for her role in 'Der Alte'.
- Alfred Scharpff, German director, screenwriter, and cinematographer.
- Miriam Scharpff, German television actress best known for her role in 'Verbotene Liebe'.
- August Scharpff, German theologian and professor of natural history.
- Claribel Scharpff, American politician and the first woman to serve on the Boston City Council.
- Martin Scharpff, German painter and engraver.
- Otto Scharpff, Swedish-born American business executive and philanthropist.
- Christina Scharpff, American physician and advocate of natural medicine.
- Given Scharpff, American entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Peter Scharpff, German politician and member of the European Parliament.