Surname Schiffermüller - Meaning and Origin
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Schiffermüller: What does the surname Schiffermüller mean?
The last name Schiffermüller is a German surname originating from the medieval occupation of a "schiffer," or ferryman. It combines the prefix "schiffer," meaning "ferryman," and the suffix "-müller," meaning "miller." The surname was likely adopted by a family of millers who, at some point in time, added the "schiffer" prefix to their original surname. Over time, this amalgamation became the official family name.
Traditionally, a ferryman was responsible for transporting people and goods on a boat or barge, usually along a river or across a larger body of water. As a rule, the ferryman determined the destination, and it was their duty to ferrate (ferry) the passengers to their desired locations. This would have been a common and lucrative job during the Middle Ages, and may have been the ancestral occupation of the German family that adopted Schiffermüller as their last name.
People with the last name Schiffermüller today are likely descendants of this German family, although the name is not exclusive to this particular group. Regardless of the source, the surname Schiffermüller is likely to be seen as a testament to the hardworking and resourceful nature of the ancestor who created it. People bearing this name today are, in a way, able to pay homage to the ferryman who first adopted it generations ago.
Order DNA origin analysisSchiffermüller: Where does the name Schiffermüller come from?
The last name Schiffermüller is most common in Germany and Austria, with Schiffermüller being found as a variant of the spelling in many other German-speaking countries. According to the Genealogical Database of the Bundesarchiv in Germany, it has been recorded the most in the Bavarian region.
The surname is thought to be derived from the occupation of a shepherd or of someone from a place associated with shepherding. The original spelling of the last name was Schiefermüller, with the prefix of 'Schiefer' meaning "slate". This indicates the family originated in an area where slate was used, such as in Franconia or in the Fichtel Mountains.
Records of the name have been found dating back to 1574. In particular, its most notable recorded family was the Schiefermüller family of the Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria in Germany, and their descendents. This family is known to have spread its name throughout the surrounding regions.
The last name Schiffermüller still has a strong presence in German-speaking countries today. It is estimated that there are about 2200 - 2250 people who have the last name in Germany at the moment, according to the World Names Statistics System. The combined population of Austria and Germany is approximately 130 million people, so Schiffermüller is a relatively small, yet still common, last name in these areas today.
Variations of the surname Schiffermüller
The surname Schiffermüller is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German elements "schiffer", meaning one who rows a boat or ship, and "müller" meaning one who operates a mill. This surname has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of Schiffermüller are Schifermuller, Schiffeheimer, Schifferhamer, Schippinger, Schiffmeuller and Schiffermoller. The variants with one "f" or one "m" or with a double ll are less common.
Spellings of Schiffermüller include Schifermuller, Schiffeheimer, Schifferhamer, Schippinger, Schiffmeuller, Schiffermoller, Schifhumer, Schifeler, Schiphammer, Schifmeiler, Schipfeler, Schipplinger, Schippermueller and Schmifmuller.
Other surnames of the same origin are Schipper, Schepers, Schiffer, Schippel, Schipfel, Schipmann, Schippl, Schipperling, Schmipple, Shiflet, Shiffer and Schifferes.
All of these variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin point to a common ancestor with similar occupational roots dating back to a Middle High German culture. Those who bear various versions of this surname today should find that they can trace their common lineage directly back to that era.
Famous people with the name Schiffermüller
- Wolfgang A. Schiffermüller: Austrian entomologist and curator.
- Karl Schiffermüller: Austrian engineer and physicist.
- Michael Schiffermüller: Austrian actor and film producer.
- Heinrich Schiffermüller: Austrian bass-baritone singer.
- Siegfried Schiffermüller: Austrian nuclear physicist who contributed to the theory of the nucleus.
- Andreas Schiffermüller: Austrian classical music composer and organist.
- Kurt Schiffermüller: Austrian astronomer who specialized in comets.
- Elizabeth Schiffermüller: Austrian artist and author.
- Paul Schiffermüller: Austrian mathematician and physicist who published numerous noteworthy papers on astronomy.
- Friedrich Schiffermüller: Austrian painting master, draftsman, and landscape artist.
- Franziska Schiffermüller: Austrian painter whose works were displayed at the 1873 Vienna International Exhibition.
- Olga Schiffermüller: Austrian actor.
- Gustav Schiffermüller: Austrian actor, director, and film producer.