Surname Schirer - Meaning and Origin
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Schirer: What does the surname Schirer mean?
Schirer is a surname of German origin. The meaning of the name is not explicitly documented. Often, German surnames were derived from occupations, geographical locations, or descriptive characteristics. It could possibly be a variant of the surname "Schirmer," which historically referred to a person who worked as a watchman or gatekeeper. However, without specific historical and familial context, the exact meaning and origin of the surname Schirer cannot be definitively determined. It's important to remember that surnames can have multiple origins and meanings based on different regional dialects and family histories. The meaning can also change over time. For a precise understanding of its meaning, individual family history and roots would need to be studied.
Order DNA origin analysisSchirer: Where does the name Schirer come from?
The last name Schirer is most common in Germany and Austria, as well as other parts of Central Europe. In Germany, it ranks among the top 12,000 most common last names. In the United States, the variety "Shirer" is much more common, and is the 1,722nd most popular last name.
Those with the last name Schirer likely originated in Alsace, a region historically contested between Germany and France. It was also likely derived from a geographic landmark in Germany. The word schirer translates to "village on a rocky outcrop," which suggests that the people who inherited the name were from the Alsace region.
Schirers are found in various parts of the world today. In the United States, the highest concentration of those with the last name Shirer can be found in the Midwestern states, with the highest numbers in the Midwest. Other places to find large numbers of Schirers include Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, England, and France.
Those with the last name Schirer likely share many traits in common. These include a strong sense of identity, strong cultural traditions religious values, and an appreciation for the arts.
Variations of the surname Schirer
The same origin of the surname Schirer has various spellings and surnames including Schirer, Shaerer, Schaer, Schaerer, Schaerrer, Schaeer, Schaerr, Schayer, Schae, Schaerre and Schaerra.
The surname is ultimately derived from the German word ‚schirrmeister‘, which was a senior rank in the army of the forerunner of Germanys Bundeswehr. The rank in the army was also referred to as a captain or commander of a regiment. People considering themselves to be of a high rank usually adopted the title as a surname.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the original spelling of the surname Schirer could have been as Schirmeister, Schyrmeister, Scheremeister, Schirmster, Schirmer and Schirmmeister. The surname Schirer also occurs in Jewish families, usually stemming from an occupation such as a businessowner, tailor or shopkeeper.
By the time of the 19th century, variants of the Schirer surname in Germany included Schaerer, Schaerrer, Schaeer, Schayer, Schae, Schaerre and Schaerra. The surname Schirer also spread to other European countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland and Britain, where the variant spellings flourished as well.
The variants of the Schirer surname can thus have various spellings, and many foreign variants of the surname as well. Nevertheless, these surnames all demonstrate an ultimate same origin.
Famous people with the name Schirer
- Ernst Schirer: Austrian-American amateur Maria fighter pilot who joined the WarBirds of America Association in 1950.
- Meg Schirer: Lawyer and former Chief Executive Officer of the International Educational Exchange Program, which works to promote peace through cultural understanding.
- Vivian Schirer: Registered nurse and martial arts instructor, and star of the CBS reality show “Big Brother.”
- Larry Schirer: American soccer player, who appeared at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the US Men’s Soccer team.
- Erich Schirer: Former President of the International Society of Aviation Medicine.
- Elisabeth Schirer: German singer and entertainer who has been featured in a number of television shows and films.
- Jon Schirer: Award-winning journalist and author, whose work has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines.
- Christine Schirer: Design consultant and expert in sustainable interior architecture who has been featured in magazines such as Interior Design and Wall Street Journal.
- Gilbert Schirer: Creative Director of a Los Angeles-based advertising firm, who has directed television commercials and music videos.
- Julian Schirer: Composer of various films and television series, such as “The Good Wife,” “Orphan Black,” and “24.”