Shaeffer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The distinguished surname Shaeffer 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 Shaeffer family

The surname Shaeffer 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 Shaeffer family

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

Shaeffer 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 Shaeffer family

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

Shaeffer Ranking

In the United States, the name Shaeffer is the 10,566^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Shaeffer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shaeffer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Martin Shaeffer, who arrived in New England in 1753 4
John Shaeffer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 4
George Shaeffer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 4
Johannes Shaeffer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1773 4

Shaeffer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Shaeffer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1837 4
Walter Shaeffer, aged 27, who landed in Missouri in 1839 4
Philip Shaeffer, who arrived in Mississippi in 1843 4
Adam Shaeffer, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 4
Henry Shaeffer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Shaeffer (post 1700) +

Carl Edgel Shaeffer (1924-1974), American professional NBA basketball player for the Indianapolis Olympians (1949-1950)
Arling Shaeffer (1859-1943), American composer and arranger, known for his books, Elite Mandolin Instructor (1891) and the Elite Guitar Instructor (1895)
Frederick Shaeffer, American co-head football coach for the Fordham University Rams in 1897
Lafayette Shaeffer (1849-1932), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Iowa State House of Representatives, 1915 5
George B. Shaeffer, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 14th District, 1932 1940 5

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
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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, November 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html