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![Show Contents]() Scheef History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany
Medieval Austria is the ancient homeland of the Scheef family. Austria, which was originally home to a Celtic people, was conquered by the Roman Empire in about 15 BC. Following the fall of Rome, Austria was repeatedly invaded by barbarian tribes, such as the Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, who swept in from the east. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemanni, Avars and Slavs settled Austria. The Avars were defeated in 785 by the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, who set up the East Mark, which later became known as the Österreich. Austria was ruled by the Babenburger dynasty until 1278, when they were succeeded by the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria until the 20th century. Early Origins of the Scheef familyThe surname Scheef was first found in Austria, where the name could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name became prominent in Austrian affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile. Early History of the Scheef familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Scheef research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1708, 1847 and 1920 are included under the topic Early Scheef History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Scheef Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Scheef include Schiff, Schiffner, Schifer, Schiffs, Schiffe and many more. Early Notables of the Scheef familyAnother 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Scheef Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Scheef familyAfter the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Scheef were Philip Schiffer, who arrived in New York in 1709-10; Bernard Schiffer came to Philadelphia in 1738; as well as Paul Schiffer in the same year; Hans Schiff came to Philadelphia in 1751.
| Historic Events for the Scheef family | + |
- Mr. Willi Scheef (1911-1937), German Engine Mechanic from Untertürkheim, Germany, who worked on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and died in the Airship Fire 1
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