Shafer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The distinguished surname Shafer 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 Shafer family

The surname Shafer 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 Shafer family

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

Shafer 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 Shafer family

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

Shafer Ranking

In the United States, the name Shafer is the 1,190^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 3

Shafer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shafer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Casper Shafer, aged 25, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 4
Fredrek Shafer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 4
Johannes Shafer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 4
Baltzer Shafer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1762 4
John Conrad Shafer, who landed in New York in 1784 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shafer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Simon Shafer, who arrived in Maryland in 1806 4
Caterina Shafer, aged 6, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 4
Christina Shafer, aged 26, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 4
Antonia Shafer, aged 38, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 4
Johanna Shafer, aged 1, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Shafer (post 1700) +

Dirk Alan Shafer (1962-2015), American model, actor, screenwriter and director, Playgirl 1992 Man of the Year
Ronald W. Shafer (b. 1938), American electrical engineer awarded many times for his contributions to digital signal processing
Roy Shafer (b. 1922), American psychologist and psychoanalyst
Harold Shafer (1912-2001), American businessman who founded the Gold Seal Company, the original maker of Mr. Bubble bubble bath
Natalie Shafer (1900-1991), American actress, best known as Mrs Thurston Howell III on CBS's Gilligan's Island (1964-67)
Dale E. Shafer, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 8 aerial victories
Claron L. Shafer, American politician, Dry Candidate for Delegate to Ohio convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 5
Chet Shafer, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 4th District, 1948 5
Chester J. Shafer, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Warren County, 1939-40 5
Charles A. Shafer, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for New York State Assembly from Erie County 4th District, 1911 5
... (Another 29 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/
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, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html