Surname Schehrer - Meaning and Origin

Schehrer: What does the surname Schehrer mean?

The surname Schehrer is a German surname derived from the Old High German word "Scherere" meaning "tailor". Tailoring was an occupation that was widespread throughout Germany in the Middle Ages and even during the early days of the modern era.

In some cases, the surname may also have been derived from the Middle High German word "scherren", meaning "to shear". This may indicate that the original bearer of the name was a barber or someone who worked with shearing animals, such as sheep, goats, and other livestock.

In the earliest records, the surname Schehrer is found mainly in Northern and Eastern Germany. In modern times, it is mainly concentrated in the states of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony. The surname is also present in Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, and Poland.

The name itself is most commonly encountered as Schehrer or Schrer but other spellings may include Scherrer, Scheerer, or Schuhrer. The meanings of these variants are largely the same in that they all refer to tailors and those who work with scissors and shears. It is worth noting that Schehrer is sometimes seen as a patronymic form of the much older name Schreiber, meaning "writer".

Schehrer: Where does the name Schehrer come from?

The last name Schehrer is most common in Austria, Switzerland, southern Germany, and north-eastern France. It's concentrated in the region between the Rhine and Rhone rivers, primarily in the province of Alsace-Lorraine.

There are also many people bearing the name Schehrer in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland. It's less common in other parts of Germany, such as Bavaria, and in Austria the family is more often seen under the spelling Schärrer.

Worldwide, the name Schehrer is estimated to have about 12,000 people, with nearly 7,000 people concentrated in Austria. It's also been recorded in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

In the United States, the name Schehrer is most common in North Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The highest concentrations of Schehrers are found in the Cyrus, Minnesota; Orrville, Ohio; and Steele County, North Dakota.

The earliest Schehrer known by name is Peter Scharer, who lived in the German city of Koblenz in the sixteenth century. Though the spelling of the name has varied over the generations, the original root is generally thought to come from the Germanic word schar, which means hoe or spade.

Today, the Schehrer family has spread across the world, with branches of the family name taking on different spellings in different countries.

Variations of the surname Schehrer

The surname Schehrer is a German-language surname that originated in the Rhineland area of Germany. The different variants and spellings of this surname are Scheuer, Scheure, Scheuers, Scheurers, Scheuermann, Schaur, Schauermann, Schauer, Schauers, Schehrer, Schehrers, Scheer, Schoer, Schoers, Schoorem, and Schuerer.

Schehrer is an occupational name derived from the German word “Scheuer”, which means “dagger” and was descriptive of the duty of a sharpener or maker of blades. This surname was likely given to someone who was a swordsmith or knife-maker - a person with the expertise to hone or manufacture a razor-sharp blade.

The Scheure, Scheuers, and Scheurers are simply alternate spellings of the same surname that developed as dialects changed over time. Similarly, the German suffix 'Man' or 'mann' was often added to the name, leading to the variant Schauermann or Scheuermann.

The other variants, such as Schaur, Schauer, Schauers, Scheer, Schoer, Schoers, and Schoorem are the result of possible mispronunciations or misspellings of the original surname during the time of immigration or throughout history. The Schuerer variation is thought to have been derived from a Yiddish form of the surname.

Today, the surname Schehrer has spread across multiple nations around the world and its variants and spellings have evolved to accommodate the local languages and dialects of those nations.

Famous people with the name Schehrer

• Joey Schehrer: American actress appearing in several television series including “Drunk History” and “The Good Place”.
• Gina Schehrer: British actor known for roles in Doctor Who, Being Human, and Gentleman Jack.
• Walt Schehrer: American professional football player who played in the NFL and AFL over nine seasons between 1948 and 1959.
• Pete Schehrer: American musician active in the 1960s and 1970s, known for the song “Want Me to Stay”.
• Eddie Schehrer: Austrian ski racer who competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
• Arthur Schehrer: Austrian ski jumping champion in the 1960s.
• Joseph Schehrer: Swiss composer of modern classical music, as well as a conductor and professor of harmony and counterpoint.
• Thomas Schehrer: Swiss American inventor who worked on projects in the fields of aerospace, energy, and advanced materials.
• Lieutenant Colonel Issac Schehrer: decorated United States Army officer who served during World War I and World War II.
• Margaret Schehrer: German-American seaman during World War II who rose to the rank of lieutenant commander.

Other surnames

Schehr