Surname Scheifele - Meaning and Origin

Scheifele: What does the surname Scheifele mean?

The last name Scheifele is of German origin and has its roots in the Middle High German word ‘Schifel’, meaning an oblong untapered wooden vessel used to measure grain, salt, or other goods. It is believed to have evolved from the Middle German word ‘scifel’ and its archaic variant ‘scifale’, which means ‘a place for taking measures’.

The Scheifele surname has become popular with immigrants in the United States and Canada, likely in response to laborers seeking a new life outside of their home countries. It has also been a common name among Jewish immigrants, especially those from Germany.

The name has taken on a variety of spelling variants, including Scheiffele, Skeifel, Schiffeler, Shiffler, Schiffley, Skiffley, and many others.

In modern-day usage, the name is usually associated with examples of leading German-American ingenuity in business and engineering. This may be a result of the high occupational demands that the surname was once associated with. People with the last name Scheifele often have a strong work ethic, determination to succeed, and a desire for quality.

Scheifele: Where does the name Scheifele come from?

The surname Scheifele is found most prevalently in Germany, where it is a top 1,000 surname. It is also a popular name in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Originally, the German spelling is "Scheifele," while the Dutch spelling is "Scheevel."

The surname originated as an occupational name for a maker of scythes. A scythe is a tool used to cut long grass and grain in a farmer's field. It is likely then that families with the Scheifele surname were early agriculturists, who made and traded tools to farmers in their region.

The spelling of the surname has changed over the centuries. Variations may include “Schefele,” “Scheifle,” “Scheible,” or “Scheifley.” People with these variations on the spelling are likely related to the Scheifele family, and are today mostly concentrated in Germany.

The Scheifele surname has also been carried to other countries over the years. In the United States, the Scheifele surname is more commonly spelled “Schaeffer” or “Schafer.” Ancestors of these families may have immigrated to America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The surname is found mainly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and other parts of the Midwest today.

Variations of the surname Scheifele

The surname Scheifele is of German origin and is believed to derive from the term ‘scheif’ meaning ‘wonky, crooked’. Over time, the name has taken on numerous variants and alternate spellings, particularly in English speaking countries.

The original spelling of the name is Scheifele, but common variants and alternate spellings include Scheifly, Scheifel, Scheifling, Scheiffely, Scheiffley, Schiefel, Schiefle, Schiffle, and Schifley.

In the United States, variants and alternate spellings of Scheifele can often be found within the same family as the result of frequent misspellings when the name was first arriving in the country. Some common surnames derived from Scheifele and its variants are Scheffel, Scheifle, Scheffle, Shefel, Sheffel, Sheffle, and Sheifle.

Other languages also have created their own versions of ‘Scheifele’, including Scheibli in German, Szevillé in Hungarian, and Szew-liel in Yiddish.

Overall, the root surname 'Scheifele' and its various variants and alternate spellings are popular throughout Germany and other countries with German populations, including the United States, Austria, Canada, and Switzerland.

Famous people with the name Scheifele

• Mark Scheifele: Mark Scheifele is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League.
• Georgia Scheifele: Georgia Scheifele is the daughter of NHL player Mark Scheifele. She is a model and social media influencer, sharing her content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Robert Scheifele: Robert Scheifele is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player, most notably for the Hamilton Tigers of the Ontario Hockey League.
• William Scheifele: William Scheifele was a Canadian lawyer and the fourth mayor of Hamilton, Ontario.
• Matthew Scheifele: Matthew Scheifele is a professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Gregg Scheifele: Gregg Scheifele is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s most prominent health care companies.
• Chelsea Scheifele: Chelsea Scheifele is an American author, podcast host, and media personality.
• Laura Mae Scheifele: Laura Mae Scheifele is an American entrepreneur and founder of the jewelry brand Ribbon + Pearl.
• Fred Scheifele: Fred Scheifele was a Canadian ice hockey player who appeared in 162 regular season games in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association.
• Susan Scheifele: Susan Scheifele is an American author, educator, and CEO of Scheifele Learning Solutions LLC, a career and executive coaching firm.

Other surnames

ScheifelScheifelin