Show ContentsShoffner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Shoffner 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 Shoffner family

The surname Shoffner 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 Shoffner family

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

Shoffner 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 Shoffner family

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

Shoffner Ranking

In the United States, the name Shoffner is the 6,890th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]


United States Shoffner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shoffner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Lena Shoffner, aged 27, arrived in New York in 1895 aboard the ship "City of Rome" from Greenock [4]
Shoffner Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Chas J. Shoffner, aged 35, arrived in New York in 1909 aboard the ship "Panama" from Cristobal, C.Z. [4]
  • Irving Shoffner, aged 28, arrived in New York in 1924 aboard the ship "Leviathan" from Southampton, England [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Shoffner (post 1700) +

  • T. M. Shoffner, American Alamance County Republican senator for the North Carolina General Assembly in 1870, eponym of The Shoffner Act
  • Wilson Allen "Dutch" Shoffner (1938-2014), American lieutenant general in the United States Army, Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College (1991 to 1993)
  • Milburn James "Milt" Shoffner (1905-1978), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1929 to 1940
  • Bob Shoffner (1900-1983), American jazz trumpeter
  • T. M. Shoffner, American politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate 26th District, 1868
  • Mrs. Price Shoffner, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1944
  • John Shoffner, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1960
  • Martha Shoffner (b. 1944), American politician, State Treasurer of Arkansas (2007-2012)


  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. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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