Surname Schieferle - Meaning and Origin
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Schieferle: What does the surname Schieferle mean?
The last name Schieferle is an occupational surname, meaning “roofer” in German. This name likely originated from someone who had this profession in the middle ages or medieval era.
The first mention of this name appears in records from the year 1216 in Bavaria. It is likely that the Schieferles have been living in this area since that time, and the spelling of the name has remained largely the same in the centuries since then.
The name Schieferle is derived from “schiefer,” a German word that translates to “slate.” This indicates that the family once gained their livelihood by covering roofs with slates, a common practice at that time. This type of work was dangerous, as falling from a roof could be deadly in that era. As a result, the Schieferles were viewed as brave, hard-working people.
Today, the Schieferles are found all over the world, though their numbers are still relatively small. They carry on their traditional artisan skills to this day, with many of them still finding work in roofing and construction. Those who bear the name can take pride in their family’s long history of bravery and dedication to their craft.
Order DNA origin analysisSchieferle: Where does the name Schieferle come from?
The last name Schieferle is most commonly found in Germany and various German-speaking areas of Europe, such as Austria and Switzerland. It is a relatively common name in Germany, ranking 80th as of 2019. While it ranks lower in Austria (around 800th) and Switzerland (around 500th), it is still a frequent family name.
The earliest records of the surname come from the early 1500s, suggesting a link to the medieval Germanic Thuringian Land in what is now central Germany, or to Austria. During the 19th century, the majority of Schieferles emigrated to the North and South American continents, particularly the United States and Brazil, although some stayed in Germany.
Today, it is primarily found in Germany – mostly throughout the southern and western regions – but also in areas of Austria, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States. There are also Schieferles living in Canada, Australia, and other countries.
Overall, the Schieferle last name is most widespread in Germany, followed by various areas of Europe and then the United States. It is a more uncommon name in other parts of the world, but is still found in certain countries.
Variations of the surname Schieferle
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Schieferle are Schiefer, Schieferl, Schieferlein, Schieferle, Schieferling, Schiefern, Schieferne, Schieferner, Schieferli, Schieferni, Schiefernie, Schieferny, Schieferney, Schiefernik and Schiefernick.
The Schieferle surname derives from the Middle German term Schife(r) meaning 'slide, fall', 'slip' or 'slide down'. The surname may have initially referred to someone who was clumsy or someone who lived near a hill or cliff, prone to landslides. During the Middle Ages, many people adopted surnames related to their occupation, with Schieferle being one of them. It was used for someone who worked with and extracted slate, a type of metamorphic rock, used to make roof tiles.
The Schieferle surname can also be found spelled several other ways throughout Europe such as Schiefler, Schifler, Schifeler, Schieferlin, Schiefling, Schuffler or Scheifler. People with this surname often have other variations that are unique to their family names, such as suffixes like 'le' or prefixes such as 'von.'
No matter how it is spelled, the Schieferle surname is commonly found in areas like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. It is also occasionally found in the United States and Canada, having been brought over by immigrants from these countries who immigrated in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries.
Famous people with the name Schieferle
- Franz Schieferle: a German theatre and movie actor who was born in 1895 and passed away in 1968.
- Dieter Schieferle: a German chemist who specialized in biochemical and physical organic chemistry. He held the chair of inorganic and food chemistry at the Technical University of Munich.
- Carl Thrudy Schieferle: an American editing pioneer who worked on the acclaimed feature films On the Waterfront, An American in Paris, The Godfather, and The Godfather Part II.
- Charles Schieferle: a German paleontologist who supported the hypothesis of continental drift.
- Rudolf Schieferle: a German surgeon, the first to successfully implant a workable artificial heart valve in 1968.
- Gail Schieferle: an American artist who specializes in painting and printmaking.
- Karl Schieferle: an architect of the late 19th century who designed the Art Nouveau-style Talhofskirche in Berlin.
- Violet Schieferle: a German photographer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Patrik Schieferle: a Swiss racing cyclist who won the Swiss National Road Race Championship in 2006.
- Hermann Schieferle: a German-born flight instructor and combat pilot during World War I.