Schaffer Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Schaffer last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Schaffer last name
Meaning of the Schaffer last name: shepherd / steward. Schaffer is a German surname from Schäfer, "shepherd", or from Schaffer, a steward or manager. The last name is found in southern and central Germany. Pennsylvania Dutch lists often use Schaffer for the same surname. Palatine passenger lists into Philadelphia already carry Schaffer among farm families.
Arms associated with the Schaffer name
German heraldry favours bold colours and clear figures, and coats of arms associated with the Schaffer surname, each with its blazon, follow that style.
Get your full Schaffer family history
This is only a glimpse of the Schaffer story. The full Schaffer history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Schaffer coat of arms. Get the full Schaffer report.
Schaffer name FAQ
What does the Schaffer name mean?
Shepherd / steward. Common variants include Schäfer, Schaeffer.
Where does the Schaffer surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.
Is there a Schaffer coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Schaffer coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).