Show ContentsShaver History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Shaver 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 Shaver family

The surname Shaver 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 Shaver family

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

Shaver 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 Shaver family

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

Shaver Ranking

In the United States, the name Shaver is the 1,742nd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [3]


United States Shaver migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shaver Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Frederick Shaver, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 [4]
  • Peter Shaver, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 [4]
  • Michael Shaver, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 [4]
  • Henry Shaver, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1767 [4]
  • Adam Shaver, who landed in Frederick County, Maryland in 1794 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Shaver Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • C Shaver, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [4]
  • W E Shaver, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1875 [4]
Shaver Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Cornelius H. Shaver, aged 75, who settled in New York, NY, in 1913
  • Frank Gray Shaver, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1913
  • Emma Louise Shaver, aged 64, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1917
  • Wilfred T. Shaver, aged 27, who landed in America from Eastbourne, England, in 1919
  • Ella M Shaver, aged 45, who immigrated to Westfield, New Jersey in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Shaver migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shaver Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Shaver, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • Mr. Adam Shaver U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [5]
  • Mr. John N. Shaver U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [5]
  • Mr. John P. Shaver U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [5]
  • Mr. Nicholas Shaver U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Shaver Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Horace Shaver, aged 48, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1922
  • Alice Shaver, aged 55, who immigrated to Hamilton, Canada, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Shaver (post 1700) +

  • Earnie Dee Shaver (1944-2022), best known as Earnie Shavers, an American professional boxer who competed between 1969 and 1995, two-time world heavyweight championship challenger who scored 68 knockout wins, including 23 in the first round
  • Billy Joe Shaver (1939-2020), American Texas country music singer and songwriter
  • James Lavesque Shaver (1902-1985), American politician, 5th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
  • Dan Shaver (1950-2007), American racecar driver
  • Jeffrey Thomas Shaver (b. 1963), former Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Gaius Ray "Gus" Shaver (1910-1998), All-American football player
  • Stephanie Diane Shaver (b. 1975), American fantasy writer and video game developer
  • John Edwin "Eddy" Shaver (1962-2003), American country-rock guitarist, arranger and songwriter
  • Tony Shaver (b. 1954), American college basketball coach
  • Richard Sharpe Shaver (1907-1975), American writer and artist
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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. 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)
  5. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


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