Surname Shapero - Meaning and Origin

Shapero: What does the surname Shapero mean?

The last name Shapero is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the Yiddish word "Shaper", meaning "tailor". Therefore, it is an occupational surname indicating that the initial bearer was a tailor by trade. Like many other Jewish surnames, it was adopted in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when the governments of various European nations began to require Jews to adopt permanent, hereditary surnames. It should be noted that similar variations of the surname such as Shapiro, Shapira, or Szapiro, are common due to differences in transliteration from the Cyrillic script and regional dialects of Yiddish. Despite its simple occupational root, the surname Shapero carries with it the unique history and culture of Ashkenazi Jews.

Shapero: Where does the name Shapero come from?

The last name Shapero is commonly found today in the United States, Israel and Eastern Europe. Many Shaperos in the United States are descendants of Lithuanian or Polish immigrants who arrived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to Lithuania and Poland, there are also Shaperos who are native to Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Austria, and Russia.

In the United States, the family name is especially popular in states with high concentrations of Jewish residents such as New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Illinois. According to public records and the 2020 U.S. census, there are over 5000 individuals who bear the surname, representing a 0.0017% prevalence across the nation.

The name also has a presence in Israeli society, where it is the 13th most popular family name. Over 13,000 of the citizens of Israel are descended from the Shapero family, and the name is believed to have originated in eastern Europe.

In general, Shapero is ranked 41733, meaning it is located within the top 50,000 of all family names in the world. Although many of the first bearers of the name are no longer alive, the name is kept alive today through those who claim it and carry their family's legacy forward into the future.

Variations of the surname Shapero

The surname Shapero has several possible variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. It is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, which typically has a German origin. The original form of the name, Shoefer, means ‘shoemaker’ in German.

Variants of the surname Shapero include: Shapiro, Shepiro, Shepper, Schipper, Schipper, Shapir, Shipper, Schippere, Schipare, and Scheper.

Another variant, Sheffer, has a distinct origin, thought to be derived from the German word, ‘shepfer’, meaning shepherd. It is also possible that the Sheffer variant descends from the name, Sieberer, meaning ‘ innumerable, countless’.

A further variant, Zipper, is believed to be associated with the German word, Zipfel, which means ‘tip of a pocket or garment’.

Finally, the variant Zycher is of a distinct origin, listed in Germany in the 17th century. However, its meaning is unknown.

Overall, the surname Shapero is German in origin and has several possible variants. Each variant has a unique origin and meaning, all related to the distant past of the Ashkenazi Jewish community.

Famous people with the name Shapero

• Leonard Shapero: a composer and orchestrator who worked on numerous films and television shows.
• Seth Shapero: an American politician from Connecticut.
• Richard Shapero: a classical composer, pianist, and music professor at the California Institute of the Arts.
• Jeffery Shapero: an American composer and editor of classical and jazz music.
• Justin Shapero: an actor and director of several movies and TV shows.
• Joel Shapero: a music artist and singer/songwriter who has released several albums.
• Dalia Shapero: a professional photographer who has taken pictures for National Geographic and other publications.
• Joel Shapero: an American painter whose work has been featured in numerous galleries and museums across the United States.
• Jeremy Shapero: a real estate developer and investor in New York City.
• Erik Shapero: an architect who is the founder and principal at Architecture Outfit, an award-winning firm based in Los Angeles.

Other surnames

Shapera