Surname Scheuffelen - Meaning and Origin

Scheuffelen: What does the surname Scheuffelen mean?

Scheuffelen is a German surname most commonly originating from the Rhineland region of Germany. The name comes from the old German “scheufeln,” which means “to stir straw” or “manure”.

The name is thought to have originated among farmers, referring to a field worker who stirred piles of straw to mix it with manure. This agricultural practice was common in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and was used as eco-friendly fertilization as it helped to improve soil quality and productivity. The Scheiffelen surname was thus used as a nickname to denote a person who worked with this substance.

Later, as families began to use the last name, it was adopted as a hereditary surname. Over time, it branched off into various spellings and versions like Schaffeln, Schiefeln, Schiefer, Schiffeler, Schiefeler, Scheffel, Schueffel and Scheuffelen. The name is uncommon in the present day, though it is still seen frequently in associated areas of Germany as well as in other parts of Europe.

In modern times, the name has no fixed meaning or significance- it simply serves as an identifier for those with familial ties to its origins. Despite its unclear origin, the surname could be said to commemorate generations of farmers who dedicated their efforts to tending the land and ensuring good harvests for their families.

Scheuffelen: Where does the name Scheuffelen come from?

The last name Scheuffelen is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It has German roots, and is derived from the Old German words "skoffil" (shield) and "helan" (to conceal or hide). According to some historic records, this name was first found in the region of Bavaria in the twelfth century. It is believed that the initial bearer of the surname was a knight whose father had given him a coat of arms with a shield motif to honor his service and courage in battle.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name Scheuffelen is shown to be that of Herman Schuffil, who appeared in the tax records of Zurich, Switzerland in 1274. Throughout the centuries, variants of the name Scheuffelen have emerged, including Schenfellen, Schufflin, Schueffelin, Schuffeler, Schuffle, Shuffle, Schofil, and Schoffelen.

Today, the last name Scheuffelen is most commonly found within Germany and Austria, and its variants may also be found in other countries with significant German populations, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Argentina.

In a 2018 study by Geni, it was found that more than 10,000 people had the last name Scheuffelen, with the majority of them living in Germany and Austria. In recent years, the popularity of the name has risen, with more people adopting it as their last name.

Variations of the surname Scheuffelen

The surname Scheuffelen is an originally Germanic surname derived from the word “schaufeln”, which means to shovel. It is commonly spelled with two Fs and one E, but there are a number of other spellings and variations that are used today. The most common variants of this surname are Schuffelen, Schufelen, Schufelt, Schuveling, Schuffling, Schokoladen, Schoenen, and Schuhlen.

Variants of the name Scheuffelen also appear in countries other than Germany, such as Switzerland, Netherlands, and Austria. In Switzerland, it is often spelled as Schoaflen or Schoafelen. In the Low Countries, spellings tend to be more closely related to its English phonetic spelling such as Scaifelen, Schaifelen, and Schaiflen.

Variants of the surname have also appeared over time with different surnames. These include Choffelen, Reifelen, Seufelen, Fieselen, and Schousen.

The surname Scheuffelen is believed to have originated in the German territories during the medieval period, and it continues to be a common surname throughout Germany, Switzerland, and the Low Countries. It is derived from the Germanic schaufeln, which means to shovel, and it is often associated with someone who was engaged in manual labor such as mining or farming.

Famous people with the name Scheuffelen

• Joep Scheuffelen: Joep Scheuffelen is a Dutch classical pianist, composer, and conductor. He is particularly noted for his recordings of works by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Robert Schumann; and for his expertise in period performance practice.
• Timo Scheuffelen: Timo Scheuffelen is a German neuroscientist and the head of research at the German Institutes for Medical Research. He is an expert in brain-computer interfaces, neural networks, and brain plasticity.
• Hans Joachim Scheuffelen: Hans Joachim Scheuffelen is a German businessman and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and chairman of the Wholesale Marketers Association, a global business network of independent distributors.
• Jens Scheuffelen: Jens Scheuffelen is a German neurologist. He is the founding director of the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology and head of the department of metabolic neurology.
• Eike Scheuffelen: Eike Scheuffelen is a German football player. He currently plays for TSV Aalen in the German fourth division.
• Elisabeth Scheuffelen: Elisabeth Scheuffelen is a German sociologist and professor at the University of Osnabrück. She is known for her research in the field of religion and generational change.
• Alex Scheuffelen: Alex Scheuffelen is a former German footballer who played for the Gelsenkirchen-based side FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.
• Achim Scheuffelen: Achim Scheuffelen is a German poet and writer. He is a member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin, and the winner of the Herder Prize in 2012.

Other surnames

ScheuffeleScheuffelin