Schefer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The distinguished surname Schefer 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 Schefer family

The surname Schefer 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 Schefer family

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

Schefer 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 Schefer family

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

Schefer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schefer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Mikel Schefer, who arrived in New York in 1709 3
Lourens Schefer, who landed in New York in 1709 3
Jacob Schefer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 3
Jost Schefer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752-1753 3
Joh Geo Schefer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Schefer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Schefer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1839 3
Y Schefer, aged 27, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 3

Schefer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schefer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Gregorius Schefer, who arrived in Canada in 1777-1783

Contemporary Notables of the name Schefer (post 1700) +

Henry Schefer, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 26th District, 1912, 1914, 1916 4

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, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html