Surname Schifferdecker - Meaning and Origin
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Schifferdecker: What does the surname Schifferdecker mean?
The last name Schifferdecker is of German origin and has many variations, including Schifferdecker, Schaferdecker, Schaferdicker, and Schaferdicker. It is derived from the German word "schiffer" meaning "sailor" and "decker" meaning "deck".
This indicates that the original bearer of the surname was a sailor who either worked on or owned a wooden decked boat, such as a ferry or barge, for the transport of goods or people along a river or lake. It is likely that the surname could have originated before the age of steam-powered ships and boats, when vessels were typically less reliable and slower.
As a result, the occupation of sailing (or sometimes piloting) a boat was a highly skilled and important job. This means that the Schifferdecker name was likely held in high esteem due to the person’s important role in transporting goods and people down rivers or across lakes.
Today, Schifferdecker is still one of the top few hundred most popular surnames in Germany and likely still stands for a skilled sailor. However, with the advancement of technology in the maritime industry, it is likely that the modern version of Schifferdecker refers to people who hold a naval license or who are involved in the operation of ships and boats for recreational purposes.
Order DNA origin analysisSchifferdecker: Where does the name Schifferdecker come from?
The last name Schifferdecker is most common today in the United States and Canada, although there are some records of the name in other countries throughout Europe and Central America. Within the United States, the states with the most prevalence of the name are Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The highest concentration of people bearing the Schifferdecker last name is in Pennsylvania, where it ranks as the 14,755th most common name.
The origins of the name Schifferdecker date back to a German ancestors who originated from the Palatine region in the 1700's. From there, these ancestors made their way to the United States, eventually settling in Pennsylvania, with major concentrations of Schifferdecker family members in northern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.
The Schifferdecker surname is distinctively German, and it is a combination of the German words schiffer, meaning sailor or sailor-like, and deker, meaning decker or builder. Thus, the name is thought to mean either a shipyard worker or a shipbuilder.
In addition to generational axis in the United States, the Schifferdecker name can also be found in Germany, Brazil, Australia, and Canada. In Canada, it is primarily found in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The name Schifferdecker is also found in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Hungary, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, and New Zealand.
No matter where the Schifferdecker name is found in the world, it continues to also have its own unique history and story. No matter where the family name is found, it is a name that has deep roots and connections to the German immigrants who made the journey to the United States generations ago.
Variations of the surname Schifferdecker
The surname Schifferdecker is a German patronymic name derived from the German personal name Schiffer. Over time, variations in the spelling of this surname have emerged as people of this surname migrated into different areas and governments attempted to standardize spelling. Today, variants of this surname are common and include variants such as Schiferdeker, Schiferdecker, Schifferdeker, and Schifferdeker.
In some instances, the surname Schifferdecker has been Germanized from a foreign variation. For example, the surname Schipperdeker is of Dutch origin, derived from the Dutch given name Schipper. Furthermore, the surname has been Americanized into many different spellings, including Shifferdecker, Shefferdeker, Chiferdeker, and Shifferdeker.
Moreover, surnames that are derived from Schifferdecker in a mild, or even significant, way are also present. These surnames have been created through either an Anglicization of the original form or a phonetic adaptation of the same. These surnames include Shafferdicker, Shifferdicker, and Shifferdigger.
The surnames Schifferdecker, Schiferdecker, Schifferdeker, and Schifferdeker all have the same origin, as do the Americanized forms and the other surnames derived or adapted from them. Each form may be found in different locations and circumstances, as well as in different countries. However, all of these variants can trace their origins back to the German surname Schifferdecker.
Famous people with the name Schifferdecker
- Claudia Schiffer: one of the world's most successful supermodels
- Johannes Schifferdecker: German sculptor from the early 17th century
- David Schifferdecker: Illinois state legislator
- John Schifferdecker: Pennsylvania state legislator
- Carl Schifferdecker: 19th century American Republican politician
- Jocelyn Schifferdecker: American Democratic politician
- Henry Schifferdecker: 19th century American Democratic state legislator
- John Schifferdecker Jr.: 20th century American state legislator
- Henry C. Schifferdecker: state representative in the Illinois House of Representatives
- Lynn Schifferdecker: American Paralympic athlete