Surname Shaver - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Unveiling the Layers of My Ancestry: Shaver, More Than Just a Surname
Discovering my family tree through my iGENEA DNA test was an enlightening journey. The test revealed that my surname, Shaver, originated from old Dutch lineage. This knowledge has provided me with a deeper understanding of my family traditions, thereby strengthening my bond with my roots.
J. Shaver
read moreShaver: What does the surname Shaver mean?
The surname Shaver is of Anglo-Saxon origin and originated from the ancient English tradition of adopting hereditary surnames as a method to resolve confusion when populations grew and the same personal names became prevalent. Shaver is an occupational surname which was derived from the type of work done by the original bearer. It is derived from the Old English term "sceafa", meaning to shave. In a historical and occupational context, the original name bearer would have been a person who removed the outer woolen skin of sheep or one who shaved wood or crafted shaving tools. The perception of Shaver as someone who shaved beards is a relatively newer association. Over centuries, the surname has undergone various spellings like Shaver, Shaffer, Schafer, and others. It also spread to other countries due to emigration, especially in Germany, leading to greater variation and distribution of the surname. So, Shaver is a multi-origin surname but is most frequently linked to its English or German roots.
Order DNA origin analysisShaver: Where does the name Shaver come from?
The last name Shaver is most common today in the United States. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Shaver is the 3,908th most common surname in the country. It is most common in California, followed by Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Texas, and Ohio. It is also common in several other states, including Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and Illinois.
Outside of the U.S., the last name is far less common. According to the World Names Profiler, the surname Shaver is the 27,777th most popular surname worldwide. It is most common in Canada, followed by Australia, England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The surname Shaver has German origins and was most likely derived from a word meaning to lather or shave. It is believed to have been adopted by a man who worked as a barber or shaver. Today, the last name Shaver serves as a reminder of a time when barbers traveled from town to town, offering services to those in need of a haircut and shave.
Variations of the surname Shaver
The surname Shaver can have several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants of Shaver include Shavar, Shaverr, Schafer, Shafar, Schaefer, Schiever, Shafir, Shefer, Sieffert, Schoff, Shaffer, Shavoir, Shavoir, Schuefer, and Sheffer. In some instances, the spelling of the name may be altered slightly due to phonetic spelling or language differences, allowing for additional surnames that share the same origin.
In France, the surname Shaver is sometimes spelled Chavare, Chavanteau, Charveron, or Chevallier; in Germany, it may be spelled Schäffer or Schäfers; in Russia, it may be spelled Shavorin; and in Wales, it may be spelt Shaffir.
The Gaelic forms of Shaver are also commonly seen in the form of Mac an Bhaird, which is anglicized as MacAnBaird, Macfhirbhisigh, and MacBhaird. In Scotland, the surname can also be spelled MacChavers, MacGhee, and MacDebar.
Variants of Shaver in other languages include the Polish Szafir, the Greek Sgouros, and the Catalan Xaver. All of the above are related to the original Shaver surname, and are all connected through an ancestor with this surname.
Famous people with the name Shaver
- Billy Shaver: An American country music singer and songwriter
- Bonny Shaver: An American pop musician and composer
- Charles Shaver: A former American football running back
- Elaine Shaver: A Canadian actress and storyteller
- Frank Shaver: A former American football player
- Herbert Shaver: An American fundamentalist Christian leader
- Jack Shaver: An American college basketball player
- Jake Shaver: An American bluegrass musician
- Joe Shaver: An American blues musician
- Karen Shaver: An American author
- Linda Shaver: An American children’s book author
- Mark Shaver: An American country songwriter
- Mike Shaver: A computer science engineer
- Paul Shaver: A former American football player
- Rebecca Shaver: A former American actress
- Robert Shaver: An American high school basketball coach
- Ruth Shaver: A former American professional basketball player
- Vance Shaver: A former American football player
- William Shaver: An American poet and literary critic
- W. R. Shaver: An American businessman.