Surname Schieffer - Meaning and Origin
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Schieffer: What does the surname Schieffer mean?
The surname Schieffer is of German origin. It is derived from a Middle Low German word “Schifor”, which initially referred to physical characteristics; someone with an elongated pointed face or chin. Later it was adapted to mean a servant or a farmer who worked in a castle or in service of a nobleman. It is also related to Middle High German forms of the surname such as Schifer, Schuefer, Schueffer, and Scheffer.
In the 13th century, when the first records of the surname Schieffer were made, it was widely used throughout Austria, Prussia, and to a lesser extent, the Netherlands. By the 15th century, the name had spread to Switzerland and Germany, where it began to develop variations in spelling.
The majority of those bearing the surname Schieffer are still found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands today. In the United States, the number of people having this last name is relatively small.
Schieffer is an occupational surname that today carries connotations of service and loyalty. For many centuries, it has been associated with hard work and steadfastness, as well as a noble lineage. As an indication of the name's heritage, those with Schieffer as their last name may feel a unique and distinctive sense of history and tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisSchieffer: Where does the name Schieffer come from?
The last name Schieffer is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg. Those areas, formerly the state of Prussia, have had citizens with the last name Schieffer since at least the early 1800s. The family name in Germany is derived from a variation of a word meaning "shield-bearer" or "shield-maker." Outside of Germany, the last name is reasonable common in the United States and can be found in Canada, Australia, and England.
The Schieffer name in the United States is largely due to German immigrants who arrived in the 1800s. The majority of these Schieffers settled in the Midwestern states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Many of them were farmers, or worked in textile, furniture, and steel industries.
Today, the name Schieffer continues to be found in the United States; however, it is relatively uncommon. In Germany's Schleswig-Holstein region the last name is considerably more common. According to a 2016 population count, the name shows up for .22 percent of the province's population. The vast majority of these Schieffers are descendant from the original family members living in the 1800s.
Variations of the surname Schieffer
The surname Schieffer is of German origin, and it is derived from the Germanic personal name Sceifar which literally translates as “sheath” or “shepherd”. Alternate spellings and variants of this surname include Schaefer, Schäfer, Schaeffer, Schaffer, Schaffer, Schaffner, Schaefers, and Schiffer.
In German the surname is typically spelled as Schäfer or Schaeffer, with Schaeffer being the Americanized spelling of the surname that is more frequently encountered. In France the surname is typically or historically spelled as Schiffer and in Zurich it is mostly Schieffer.
Another variant of the surname Schieffer is Schaefers, which is found in North America. This variant is most likely derived from the Swiss variant Schieffer, which was applied to families that initially emigrated from Switzerland.
The surname Schaffer or Schaffer is another variant of the German surname Schieffer. It is found mainly in south Germany, and is most likely derived from the personal name Schaff, a pet form of the name Schaffer.
Other variants of the surname Schieffer include Schaffner, which is found mainly in Austria, and Schaefer, which is the most common German spelling of the surname. This spelling is found mainly in North America and in countries in which German immigrants settled.
Famous people with the name Schieffer
- Bob Schieffer: American TV news anchor who worked for CBS News for more than 50 years.
- Pat Schieffer: youngest of the Schieffer brothers, worked as an executive vice president of CBS News.
- John Schieffer: second oldest of the Schieffer brothers, John is currently a professor at the University of North Texas.
- Tom Schieffer: oldest of the Schieffer brothers and a businessman who served as ambassador to Japan.
- Fran Schieffer: an American actor, screenwriter and voice actor, best known for roles in films such as The Warriors and Savage Water.
- Richard Schieffer: a prominent American lawyer at the international firm Hogan Lovells LLP.
- Caren Schieffer: a leader in nonprofit, international development and global health organizations, Caren has notable affiliations with organizations such as The Global Fund.
- Del Schieffer: an American photographer known for his avant-garde portraiture and fashion photography.
- Joe Schieffer: a professional American football player who played for the New York Giants, Chicago Cardinals and Detroit Lions from 1931 to 1934.
- Desirae Schieffer: an accomplished alpine skier who represented the U.S. in several World Cup events.