Schoff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The distinguished surname Schoff 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 Schoff family

The surname Schoff 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 Schoff family

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

Schoff 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 Schoff family

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

Schoff migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schoff Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Schoff, who arrived in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1752 3
Rudolph Schoff, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 3
Georg Schoff, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 3
Friederich Schoff, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1756 3

Schoff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J Schoff, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Schoff (post 1700) +

Stephen Alonzo Schoff (1818-1904), American engraver and etcher, engraver for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Wilfred H. Schoff, American politician, Honorary Consul for Bolivia at Philadelphia, 1898 4
Rick Schoff, Australian former rules footballer who played 215 games, inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame (2001)

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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html