Shaffner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The distinguished surname Shaffner 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 Shaffner family

The surname Shaffner 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 Shaffner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shaffner 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 Shaffner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shaffner 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 Shaffner family

Prominent figures of the time who bore the name Shaffner 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 Shaffner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shaffner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shaffner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Martin Shaffner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "Friendship of Bristol" [3]
Casper Shaffner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 [3]
Jacob Shaffner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1761 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Shaffner (post 1700) +

Paul Shaffner (b. 1960), American football former player, current defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach at Colgate University
Colonel Taliaferro Preston Shaffner (1811-1881), American inventor and entrepreneur from Smithfield, Virginia who published Shaffner's Telegraph Companion, a monthly journal devoted to Morse's telegraphy, from 1854 to 1855; he built a telegraph line from St. Louis, Missouri to Jefferson City in 1851
John Elvin Shaffner (1911-2001), Canadian businessman and politician from Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, 26th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (1978-1984)
Caleb Willoughby Shaffner (1845-1932), Canadian travelling salesman and politician from Nicteaux, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia who represented Annapolis County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1878 to 1882

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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)