Schaefer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The distinguished surname Schaefer 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 Schaefer family
The surname Schaefer 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 Schaefer family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schaefer 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 Schaefer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Schaefer 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 Schaefer family
Prominent figures of the time who bore the name Schaefer 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 Schaefer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Schaefer Ranking
In the United States, the name Schaefer is the 1,043rd most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 3 However, in France, the name Schaefer is ranked the 6,697th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 4
Schaefer migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Schaefer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Enners Schaefer, who arrived in America in 1709-1711 5
- Hs Schaefer, who arrived in America in 1709-1711 5
- Hs Georg Schaefer, who landed in America in 1709-1711 5
- Joh Henr Schaefer, who arrived in America in 1709-1711 5
- Agnes Schaefer, who arrived in America in 1730 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Schaefer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Christine Schaefer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 5
- Katharine Schaefer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 5
- Kath Schaefer, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 5
- Martha El Schaefer, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 5
- Joh Jac Schaefer, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Schaefer migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Schaefer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Dorothea Schaefer, aged 65, who arrived in Quebec in 1893
- Georg Schaefer, aged 65, who arrived in Quebec in 1893
Schaefer migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Schaefer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Hein. Schaefer, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Ferdinand" in 1844
Contemporary Notables of the name Schaefer (post 1700) +
- James George Schaefer (1938-2018), American politician, Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives (2013-2018) and (2011-2013)
- Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer (1876-1919), American Major League Baseball second baseman
- William Donald Schaefer (1921-2011), American politician, 58th Governor of Maryland (1987 to 1995)
- Milner Baily "Benny" Schaefer (1912-1970), American biologist who specialized in the fisheries, eponym of the Schaefer short-term catch equation
- Herman H. Schaefer (1919-1980), American professional basketball player and coach
- Frederick Schaefer (b. 1842), German revolutionary and Union Army colonel during the American Civil War who co-founded F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company with his brother Maximilian
- Staff Sergeant Joseph E Schaefer (1918-1987), American Army soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
- Manfred Schaefer (1943-2023), German football defender who represented the Australian national team internationally, participating in the 1974 World Cup in Germany
- Nolan Schaefer (b. 1980), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey goaltender
- Peter Schaefer (b. 1977), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey player
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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/
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)