Surname Shifflette - Meaning and Origin
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Shifflette: What does the surname Shifflette mean?
The surname Shifflette is considered to be of French origin, derived from the French surname "Chifflet". The original French name is believed to have occupational origins, referring to someone who worked with chiffon or was a manufacturer or dealer of lightweight cloth or rags. After immigration to other countries, such as the United States, the name was altered to its current spelling, Shifflette, following English pronunciation and spelling conventions. However, as with many surnames, the exact origins and meaning are not fully documented and can only be conjectured based on available historical records and linguistic analysis. It's always important to note that surnames can have multiple origins, and the meaning can vary based on geographical regions and historical periods.
Order DNA origin analysisShifflette: Where does the name Shifflette come from?
The last name Shifflette is most commonly found today in the southeastern region of the United States. The majority of people with this surname reside in Virginia, with smaller numbers found in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The earliest recorded appearance of the name in this region dates back to the mid-17th century.
The Shifflette name is a patronymic version of the English surname Shiflett, which is derived from the Old English Shiffel. It was an occupational surname given to people who worked as shiffelers, which were people who sorted and sold shiffels, pieces of leather used as either saddle girths or for making hats.
This uncommon surname has often been adopted into other spellings, such as Shifflet, Schiflett, Shifflett, and Shiflett. To this day, it continues to be found in the areas where it originated many centuries ago, largely concentrated in the southeastern United States.
Variations of the surname Shifflette
The surname Shifflette has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname include: Schifflett, Shifflet, Shifflett, Schifflet, Schifflette, Shiflet and Shiflette.
The Germanic origins of the surname can be found in the suffix -lait, which is derived from either Latin or Old High German and is related to the modern German word “Licht” which means “light”. The use of this suffix first appeared in Middle High German documents and was likely used to indicate something bright or notable about a person, thus leading to the creation of the surname Shifflette.
The surname has also been written as Schifflatte, Schiflait, Schefflat, Scheffelat and Shefflete. These spellings may have been influenced by the surnames Scheffel and Schiefel, which were popular in Germany and the United Kingdom.
Other surnames with similar origins or meanings to Shifflette include: Shiffel, Schiffler, Schifler and Shevelle. These surnames also originated from Middle High German and are likely derived from the root words “schif” and “lait”, signifying something “light” in meaning.
The spelling of the surname Shifflette is relatively uncommon, however there is evidence of at least four different families bearing the name, from both the United States and Europe, suggesting there is a long and varied history behind the surname.
Famous people with the name Shifflette
- Anne Shifflette: American folk singer/songwriter
- John Shifflette: Former American professional soccer player
- Earl Shifflette: Grammy nominated country music songwriter
- Josh Shifflette: Professional American football running back
- Julie Shifflette: Award-winning mezzo-soprano opera singer
- Bryan Shifflette: Professional artistic gymnast
- Abby Shifflette: All-American cheerleader
- Stephanie Shifflette: Professional Broadway actress
- Ann Shifflette: Librarian and author
- Bill Shifflette: Television producer and director