Shofner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The distinguished surname Shofner 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 Shofner family

The surname Shofner 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 Shofner family

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

Shofner 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 Shofner family

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

Shofner Ranking

In the United States, the name Shofner is the 11,954^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Shofner family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Andreas Schaeffer, who emigrated with his family to England or America in 1709; and Hans Georg Schafer came to Carolina or Pennsylvania in 1709; John Shaver came to Nova Scotia in 1760.

Contemporary Notables of the name Shofner (post 1700) +

Brigadier General Austin Conner Shofner (1916-1999), United States Marine Corps officer, member of the only successful escape from a Japanese prisoner of war camp
Frank Strickland "Strick" Shofner (1919-1998), American Major League Baseball third baseman for the Boston Red Sox in 1947
Jim Shofner (1935-2021), American football player and coach
Delbert "Del" Shofner (b. 1934), American football wide receiver who played for eleven seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants
Calvin Grant Shofner (1932-2013), known professionally as Cal Smith, an American country singer, known for his 1974 hits "Country Bumpkin" and "It's Time to Pay the Fiddler"
W. A. Shofner, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Texas State Senate, 1950
Martin K. Shofner, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1972
Howard B. Shofner, American Republican politician, Tennessee Republican State Chair, 1931; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1932, 1936

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/