Show ContentsSchaaf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Schaaf family

The surname Schaaf was first found in Westphalia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families in the western region. From the 13th century onwards the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Schaaf family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schaaf research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schaaf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schaaf Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Schaafhausen, Schaafhhausen, Schafhausen, Schafhhausen, Schaaffhausen, Schaafhausenn, Schaafhausene, Schaffhausen, Schaufhausen and many more.

Early Notables of the Schaaf family

Notables of the period with the name Schaaf were

  • the Schaafhausen family of Westphalia

Schaaf Ranking

In the United States, the name Schaaf is the 8,104th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Schaaf migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schaaf Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Ann C. Lotz Schaaf, who settled in New York in 1743
  • Anna C. Schaaf, who settled in New York in 1743
  • Anna C Schaaf, who landed in New York, NY in 1743 2
  • Anna Catharina Schaaf, who arrived in America in 1743 2
  • John Schaaf, who arrived in New York, NY in 1743 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Schaaf Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Carl Schaaf, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1801 2
  • Joh Gottf Schaaf, who arrived in America in 1807 2
  • Mrs. Cath. Schaaf, (nee Rees), aged 28, who landed in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Dethardt" 2
  • Philipp Heinrich Schaaf, aged 35, who arrived in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Dethardt", he died in 1852 2
  • Miss Johanna Schaaf, aged 4, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Joh. Derhardt"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Schaaf (post 1700) +

  • Robert Schaaf (b. 1957), American physician, director of the Missouri Doctors Mutual Insurance Co
  • Elizabeth Beckman "Libby" Schaaf (b. 1965), American politician, 50th Mayor of Oakland, California (2015-)
  • Jim Schaaf, American football executive in the National Football League, General Manager for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1976 to 1988
  • Henry "Harry" Schaaf, American track and field athlete in the early 20th century
  • Alan Schaaf (b. 1987), American founder and CEO of the image-sharing app and website Imgur
  • Ernie Schaaf (1908-1933), American professional boxer who died on Valentine's Day after a bout in 1933
  • Bree Schaaf (b. 1980), American skeleton racer
  • Joseph G. "Joe" Schaaf (1908-1997), American basketball player who was a two-time NCAA All-American
  • Thomas Schaaf (b. 1961), German former football defender and current manager
  • Johannes Schaaf (b. 1933), German film director

Bismarck
  • Hermann Schaaf (1907-1941), German Kapitänleutnant who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 3


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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