Surname Schafbauer - Meaning and Origin
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Schafbauer: What does the surname Schafbauer mean?
The last name Schafbauer is a German surname. The English translation of the name is "sheep farmer" (literally "sheep builder"), indicating that the original bearers of this name were involved in sheep herding, sheep farming, shepherding, or some other related activity. The name is derived from the Old High German element "schaf," meaning "sheep," and "bauer," which means "farmer," "builder," or "maker."
In Old High German, the surname Schafbauer referred to one who herded or kept sheep, or who bred them and bred their products specifically for their wool. Sheep herding was an important source of food and income throughout German history, so this type of profession was not only necessary, but often highly respected. The old German term for sheep farming was Schafbau, so likely, early Schafbauers were farmers who specialized in sheep-related activities.
The use of the last name Schafbauer arises in the Middle Ages. Records of the Schafbauer family in Germany go back as early as the 14th century, when Hartman Schafbauer was listed in a 1377 document from the city of Oberleichtersbach, Bavaria. Even today, the surname is found throughout various regions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other European countries.
Today, the surname Schafbauer is still associated with sheep farming traditions and rural German culture. It is a reminder of the rich history of shepherding and animal husbandry in Germany, as well as testament to the ongoing importance of these activities. It is also a reminder of those who dedicated their lives to the hard work of raising sheep.
Order DNA origin analysisSchafbauer: Where does the name Schafbauer come from?
The last name Schafbauer is quite uncommon today, particularly outside of Germany. Within Germany, most people with the Schafbauer surname live in Bavaria, the largest state in Germany. According to 2017 population data, the total number of people with the Schafbauer surname is approximately 1,387 people, of which 1,245 live in Bavaria. This is less than 1 out of every 10,000 people in Germany.
Outside of Germany, a few scattered individuals with the Schafbauer surname can be found in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The United States has the largest concentration of people with the Schafbauer name, with approximately 149 people or 0.00004 percent of the population. Canada and Australia have much smaller populations of Schafbauer's, consisting of only 11 and 6 individuals respectively.
Given the rarity of the Schafbauer surname outside of Germany, it would be safe to conclude that the name is not very common wherever you are in the world today. But while it may no longer be a common surname, it serves as a reminder of the past, as it has been around for centuries, starting with someone living in Bavaria in the 1500s.
Variations of the surname Schafbauer
The Schafbauer surname is derived from the German word for "shepherd." Common variants of the surname are Schaffbauer, Schafbeur and Schafbauerer.
The Schafbauer surname is also written as Schafauer, Schaffauer and Schaphauer. Some variants have been developed through the spelling variations of the surname during past generations or through translation or transposition from one language to another, such as Schaffeur, Schaffour or Schafbaur.
In addition to its various spellings, the Schafbauer surname is found in a variety of forms. These include Shephard, Shephardson, Shepheard, Shepheardson, Sheppard, Shepardson and Shepherdson. It may also be found as Schaeffer, Schaeffner, Schaefer and Schafer.
These surname spellings and variants are not limited to Germany. In some cases, they have spread beyond the borders of the fatherland and have been adopted by other countries with more diversity in spelling the Schafbauer surname. Consequently, the Schafbauer surname can be found as Schafer in the United States, Chafee in Canada, and Schaefer in England.
In Austria, the Schafbauer surname is amongst the oldest surnames of the region and is maintained in its original spelling. Versions of this surname in Austria are Shephard and Schafburger. The Schafbauer surname is also present in Slovakia, Czech Republic, in Austria and in other Germanic countries.
In conclusion, the Schafbauer surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. As the name has spread throughout the world, many variations of the name have emerged due to different language and cultural influences.
Famous people with the name Schafbauer
- Reinhold Schafbauer, German painter
- Micha Schafbauer, Austrian footballer
- Israel Schafbauer, Austrian mathematician
- Donald Schafbauer, American cinematographer
- Stan Schafbauer, American baseball player
- Rosemarie Schafbauer, German writer
- Hans Schafbauer, German physicist
- Heinz Schafbauer, German physicist
- Johann Schafbauer, German composer
- Chris Schafbauer, Canadian animator