Surname Shifflett - Meaning and Origin
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Shifflett: What does the surname Shifflett mean?
The surname Shifflett is of French origin, specifically from the historic region of Normandy. The name appears to be a variant of the French surname "Chifflet," derived from the Old French term "eschevele," meaning "disheveled." The name was likely initially used as a nickname for someone with unkempt or messy hair before evolving into a surname. Over time, it experienced various transformations in spelling as members of the family moved and settled in different regions, particularly in England, and eventually in the United States. Today, Shifflett is a prevalent surname in the U.S., with heavy concentrations in the states of Virginia and Maryland. The interpretation of surnames can sometimes be speculative and should be considered within historical and cultural contexts.
Order DNA origin analysisShifflett: Where does the name Shifflett come from?
The last name Shifflett is most commonly found in the US today. It is believed to be a variant of the German name Schaeffle, which was altered by immigration officers at Ellis Island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is most prevalent in the southern US, particularly in states such as Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Virginia has the largest population of people with the last name Shifflett, with almost 12,000 individuals having the name. It is likely that the name was brought to the US by immigrants who moved to the state during its settlement period in the 1600s and 1700s. As the name spread through the generations, more families adopted the name and settled in more southern US states.
The name has also spread to other countries as well, particularly Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In addition, there are a large number of people with the last name living in Mexico.
The name is not associated with any particular religion or ethnicity, though the majority of those with it identify as Caucasian, Christian or non-religious. There does not appear to be any additional meaning behind the name. It may be that it was simply a last name adopted by English-speaking settlers that stuck through the years.
Variations of the surname Shifflett
Shifflett is a surname of Germanic origin. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Shifflett include Shifflet, Shifflette, Shefflet, Shefflette, Shiflett, Shefly, Shefley, Sheffey, Shiffey, Chevlet, Shoulet, and Shefelbine.
Shifflett is a relatively common surname of German origin, derived from the Germanic words “schiff”, meaning “ship”, and “laut”, which likely refers to an “outcry”. Combined, this suggests that the name was a nickname used to describe a person who was noisy, like a “ship’s cry”.
The variants Shifflet and Shifflette are the most common forms of the name, but it is also seen spelled as Shefflet, Shefflette, Shiflett, Shefly, Shefley, Sheffey, Shiffey, Chevlet, Shoulet, and Shefelbine. Additionally, the variations can overlap, and different spellings can be found even within the same family.
To this day, Shifflett remains a common surname in the United States and Germany, and it can be found throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
Famous people with the name Shifflett
- Ryan Shifflett: Ryan Shifflett is an American soccer player who most recently played for the Premier Development League’s Chattanooga Red Wolves.
- Paul Shifflett: Paul Shifflett is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in parts of three seasons, from 1960-1962. 3.ory Shifflett: Cory Shifflett is an American motorcycle racer, who competed in the AFT Singles and Twins divisions of the American Flat Track racing series.
- Dave Shifflett: Dave Shifflett is a professional racing driver. He competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 1985 to 1990.
- William Shifflett: William Shifflett, also known as Captain William Shifflett, was captain in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.
- Eric Shifflett: Eric Shifflett is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for his work on the Comedy Central series, Drunk History.
- Mike Shifflett: Mike Shifflett is an American professional stuntman. He has worked on many high-profile films such as Jurassic World, Into the Spider-Verse, and The Lone Ranger.
- Megan Shifflett: Megan Shifflett is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in many television shows and movies, including Shameless, Charmed, and Jane the Virgin.
- Wayne Shifflett: Wayne Shifflett is an American politician who has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2016. He is a member of the Republican Party.
- Robert Shifflett: Robert Shifflett is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general. He was Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and director of the Air Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC, from 2005 to 2006.