Surname Schieffers - Meaning and Origin
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Schieffers: What does the surname Schieffers mean?
The last name Schieffers is of German origin. It is a locational surname, which means that it originated from a particular place. The place that Schieffers is derived from is the small town of Scheffers in Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen, Germany. People from this area took the name Schieffers as a surname when they moved to other parts of Germany or other parts of the world.
The literal meaning of the name Schieffers is 'shepherd.' This is due to the fact that the town of Scheffers was once the center of a large sheep-raising district. It is possible that people bearing the surname Schieffers were directly involved in the business of shepherding or it could also be that they were so closely associated with that industry that they took the name as their own.
The name Schieffers is found in many countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, France, and Canada. It has several variants, including Schiefer, Scheiffer, Schieferstein, Scheifele, Schiefber, Schieferbeck, and Sheiffer.
Overall, the last name Schieffers has an interesting history. Its literal meaning provides insight into the life of those with the surname, as they were likely involved with the business of shepherding. Its geographical origin also follows the travels of those who originally used the name.
Order DNA origin analysisSchieffers: Where does the name Schieffers come from?
The last name Schieffers is primarily common in areas of Germany and Switzerland. It is sometimes spelled Schiefer, Scheffer, Schueller, and Shiffer. The earliest records of the name date back to the 16th century when it appeared in records in Saxony and Bavaria in Germany. By the 1800s, many Schieffers had migrated from Germany to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and other areas.
In the early 20th century, some Schieffers left the United States and migrated to South America, primarily to Brazil. In Brazil, the name is pronounced ‘Sheh-fear’ and there are now many families named Schieffers living in the Brazil.
Today, the last name Schieffers is present in many countries across the world. In Germany, the number of people with the last name was highest in the late 19th century. In the US, around 2400 people still bear the name, mainly concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. There are also Schieffers in Canada and several other countries.
Although the Schieffers name is not as widespread as it once was, its presence can still be found in many areas across the world.
Variations of the surname Schieffers
The surname Schieffers is a German name and is derived from the Middle High German word 'schef' which means a leader or chief. This name is also spelled Schiefer, Schiffer, Schifer, Scheffers or even Scheffler. Variants of this surname include Schifer, Schiefer, Schieferle, Schieferl, Schieferling, Schiffeer, Schiffers, Schiffman, Schiffmann, Schiffner, Schirf, Schirff, Schirffer, Schirfflein, Schirffling, Schoffer, Schoffer, Schofferer, Schott, Schuber, Schubers, Schuberts and Shifler.
In many places in Germany, Schieffers is pronounced as 'Shavers'. In Dutch, it is spelled as 'Schepers', while in Switzerland it becomes 'Schüpfer'. In the United States, variations of the name Schiefer are more common than the original spelling. This is due to the fact that a large number of German emigrants who arrived there used different spellings of their name in order to easily fit in with their new society.
All of these variants and spellings ultimately trace their origin back to the Middle High German word 'schef', making them all derivatives of the same surname. The spelling of the name will also depend on the region and country it is used in. However, no matter the spelling, all of them are variants of the same family name and help to connect people related to it.
Famous people with the name Schieffers
- Thomas Schieffer: Former U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Japan
- Bob Schieffer: Veteran broadcast journalist, former anchor of CBS Evening News
- Tim Schieffer: American entrepreneur and investor
- Steve Schieffer: Former NFL safety and offensive coordinator
- Mike Schieffer: American musician and songwriter
- Kirsten Schieffer: German-American painter and multimedia artist
- Karl Schieffer: Austrian artist and polymath
- Dave Schieffer: American entertainer and internet personality
- Sarah Schieffer-Haskins: American athlete and Olympian
- Stephanie Schieffer: American writer and editor