Show ContentsShaefer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Shaefer is German in origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term "schaffaere," which referred to a shepherd, one who took care of sheep. [1] Alternatively, the name could have been derived from an German occupational name for someone "who made casks and barrels, a cooper." [2]

Early Origins of the Shaefer family

The surname Shaefer was first found in Hessen, where the name was closely identified in early medieval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Shaefer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shaefer research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1425, 1451, 1503, 1569, 1624, 1653, 1677, 1699, 1756, 1787 and 1813 are included under the topic Early Shaefer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shaefer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Schaeffers, Schaefer, Scheaffer, Schaefers, Schaffer, Schafer, Shaeffer, Schefer, Shaefer and many more.

Early Notables of the Shaefer family

Prominent figures of the time who bore the name Shaefer were Peter Schöffer (c.1425-c.1503), an early German printer, and worked as a manuscript copyist in 1451.Angelus Silesius or Johann Angelus Silesius (1624-1677), born Johann Scheffler, was a German Catholic priest and physician. He was known as a mystic and religious poet, born and raised a Lutheran. In 1653, he adopted the name Angelus (Latin for "angel" or "heavenly messenger") and the epithet Silesius ("Silesian") and converted to Catholicism. As a convert and priest, he tried to convince German Protestants...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shaefer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Shaefer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shaefer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • David Shaefer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1763 [3]
Shaefer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johann Wilhelm Shaefer, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 [3]
  • Christopher Shaefer, who landed in Mississippi in 1880 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Shaefer (post 1700) +

  • Richard M. Shaefer, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Idaho 1st District, 1948 [4]


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook