Surname Schiff - Meaning and Origin
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Schiff: What does the surname Schiff mean?
The surname Schiff is of German origin and translates to "ship" in English. This name was traditionally given to someone who built ships or worked in the shipping industry. It could also have been a name given to immigrants when they arrived by ship to a new country. As a Jewish surname, it could also denote someone from a kohen descent, denoting ancient priestly roles within the Jewish community. However, like many surnames, the exact origins and meanings can vary and it may not always hold such occupational or status significance. While it carries these traditional connotations, today, the name Schiff is simply a family name passed down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisSchiff: Where does the name Schiff come from?
The last name Schiff is a common Jewish surname, meaning "boat" in German and Yiddish. It is most commonly found throughout Central and Eastern Europe, especially in countries like Germany, Austria, Poland, and Hungary where there has historically been a large Jewish presence.
The surname has been borne by notable people, including composer Maximilian Anton Karl Schiffer, publisher Jacob Schiff, and playwright Arthur Schiffer. Recently, it has become part of multiple prominent American families, most notably that of Steve Schiff, who was a New Mexico politician and father of US Representative Adam Schiff.
Due to the name’s commonality in Eastern and Central Europe, it has spread widely around the world, particularly in the US. The states with the highest number of people with the last name Schiff according to the US Census are New York, California, and New Jersey. In fact, according to estimates, the number of people in the US with the last name Schiff stands at around 35,000.
Outside of the US, the last name is also present in pockets around the world. It can be found with a considerable frequency in many countries including England, Belgium, France, Italy, and Israel.
Overall, the last name Schiff is common today in many countries and cultures around the world, especially in the US. It has a long history, and its prominence in Eastern and Central Europe has enabled it to spread as far as it has today.
Variations of the surname Schiff
The surname Schiff originates from German and Ashkenazi Jewish cultures and has a variety of variants, alternate spellings, and surnames from the same origin. As far as variants go, the most commonly used is Shiff, both in English and in German. Other alternatives include like Schif, Schiffe, Schifff, and Schifft. In English, common alternate spellings include Shiph, Schiph, Schipp and Schyp.
In German, Schiff may sometimes be seen spelled with a double f, Schifff, and a double t, Schifft, in place of the single f. This spelling change may have been meant to give the name a more upscale feel, or could have been done in order to make it easier to pronounce and spell.
Finally, when it comes to other surnames of the same origin, more commonly used alternatives include Schifman, Shiffman, Schiffmann, and Schiffer. These alternative surnames very likely originated from the Hebrew surname 'Shiffman', which contains the same root, 'Shiff.'
In any case, all of these variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin originated from the original German word 'Schiff,' which means 'boat.' This origin is likely why the surname Schiff is quite common amongst Jews, as the Jewish population have a long history of travelling and trading by way of boats.
Famous people with the name Schiff
- Adam Schiff: Adam Bennett Schiff is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 28th congressional district since 2013 and Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence since 2019.
- Nina Jacobson– Nina Jacobson is an American film producer and former studio executive best known as the former president of the Walt Disney Company's motion picture division Buena Vista Pictures from 2000-2006.
- Leonard L. Schiff: Leonard Schiff was an American theoretical physicist, author and academic. He was a professor of physics at Stanford University from 1951–1978.
- David Schiff: David Schiff is an American composer, who has composed music for the concert stage, as well as for film, television and theatre. He has written and produced more than thirty works, including four operas, two musicals and an oratorio.
- Eugene Schiff: Eugene R. Schiff is an American hepatologist and professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is a recipient of numerous awards including his election into the prestigious National Academy of Medicine.
- Jacob Schiff: Jacob Henry Schiff was an American banker, businessman, and philanthropist. He was born in Germany and later immigrated to the United States, where he became a partner in the banking firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co.
- Debra Schiff: Debra J. Schiff is an American psychologist and professor. She is a professor emerita and the past director of clinical services in the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry.
- Joshua S. Schiff: Joshua S. Schiff is an American lawyer and former partner in the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. He was a member of the firm since 1986 until his retirement in 2012.
- Adam J. Schiff– Adam J. Schiff is an American attorney and former director of the Office of Whistleblower Programs for the United States Department of Labor. He is currently an attorney in private practice in Washington, D.C.