Surname Schaffar - Meaning and Origin
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Schaffar: What does the surname Schaffar mean?
The surname Schaffar is of German origin and has a number of possible meanings. The most broadly accepted origin is that it is derived from the German word “schaffen” which means “to create” or “to do”, suggesting that it originally referred to someone who was industrious or a capable worker. Other possibilities include that the name is derived from the Middle High German word “schaffaere” meaning “council” or “deputy”, indicating the surname might have belonged to someone important within a local government. Alternatively, the name could be derived from the Middle High German word “schaffare” which means “dish maker” or “potter”. It is also possible that the surname was taken on by someone who came from a place called Schaffar, a village in Germany whose name means “small valley”.
In any case, the surname Schaffar has been associated with families since at least the 14th century, and as such it has been passed down through hundreds of years of German history.
Order DNA origin analysisSchaffar: Where does the name Schaffar come from?
The last name Schaffar is most commonly found in Central Europe, particularly in the countries of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. There are also some bearers of the Schaffar name living in the United Kingdom, United States, and other parts of the world.
In Austria, Schaffar can be found mostly in regions like Meidling (Vienna), St. Valentin (Upper Austria), Mattighofen (Upper Austria), and Zwentendorf an der Donau (Lower Austria). Locals with the surname Schaffar in Meidling have been living there since the mid-1800s. Evidence from vital records and directories from the 1600s shows that local people bearing the name Schaffar originally came from central German areas like Prussia.
The Schaffar name was found mainly in the Swabia region of Germany in the 19th century. At that time, this region extended from Ulm to Switzerland. In the Palatinate region of Germany, the Schaffar name has been found in the Westerwald and the Nahe area since the 1600s.
In Switzerland, the Schaffar surname is most commonly found in the cities of Zurich and Lausanne. In Lausanne in particular, there is a region called Schaffhauserplatz. This area got its name as many of its first settlers were people with the Schaffar surname.
The Schaffar surname can also be found in the Czech Republic, mostly in cities like Pilsen and Prague.
Apart from these countries in Central Europe, some people bearing the Schaffar name have moved to other parts of the world, like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Schaffar
The surname Schaffar is of German origin and generally found in Germany and Austria. It could also be found in North America, United Kingdom, Latin America and Scandinavian countries. Schaffar is a variation of the name Schaffer which means “one who works with a scythe”.
Variants of the surname Schaffar include Shaffer, Schafer, Schaffer, Schufer, Schaufer, Shafer, Schoefer, Schaefer, Schoener, and Schaffer.
In the United States, the surnames Schaffar and Shaffer can commonly be found, whereas Schaffer and Schafer are more common in Germany and Austria. Spellings such as Schaefer, Schoener, and Schoefer are more often found in the United Kingdom.
In Scandinavia, the spelling Schufer, Schaufer, and Shafer may be more common, and in Latin America, it is likely to be spelled Schaefer.
Suggested surnames of similar origin include Schwartz, Schurz, Schreck, and Schmauch.
Famous people with the name Schaffar
- Florian Schaffar: He is a French singer-songwriter and actor who is renowned for his modern take on French pop-ballads.
- Claude Schaffar: He is a Swiss former football player whose highlights include leading the Swiss team FC Basel to win the national championship in 1966 and 1967.
- Amélie Schaffar: She is a former Olympic long-distance runner from France who won a bronze medal in the 1995 World Championships and set a French record in the 10,000 meter race.
- Moritz Schaffar: He is a German musician and composer who composed film scores for various German films.
- André Schaffar: He is a former Swiss ski racer who competed as a slalom and giant slalom specialist in the World Cup.
- Willy Schaffar: He is a Swiss skier from the Canton of Glarus who competed in the 1936 Winter Olympics.
- Philippe Schaffar: He is a former individual medley swimmer from France who won a silver medal in the 1978 World Aquatics Championships.
- Roman Schaffar: He is a German politician and a Member of the European Parliament representing the Free Democratic Party of Germany.
- David Schaffar: He is a French football player who plays for Swiss club FC Zürich.
- Marcel Schaffar: He is a Luxembourg art historian who wrote a book on Luxembourg painting from the 19th century to present day.