Surname Schäfferle - Meaning and Origin
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Schäfferle: What does the surname Schäfferle mean?
The last name Schäfferle is a German surname derived from the German noun “Schäfer”, meaning shepherd. This name originally referred to someone whose occupation was that of a shepherd. Alternatively, it may have been derived from a specific family or clan whose name comes from a place where shepherding was commonplace.
Schäfferle is also sometimes found spelled as Schaefferle, Schaeferle, Schaferle, Schoffer, Shaffer, or Sheffer. Heavily concentrated in Bavaria, the name may have started with a specific family or clan in that region. Records dating back as far as the 13th century have been found, though examples of the Schäfferle surname can be found elsewhere in Germany over several centuries.
It’s thought that the name was given to someone because of their occupation as a shepherd, or of their family's profession. It may also have been given to distinguish one group of shepherds from another, or to identify a shepherd related to a specific family.
The modern spelling of Schäfferle can be found not only in Germany but also in other countries with German-speaking populations, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisSchäfferle: Where does the name Schäfferle come from?
The last name Schäfferle is still a fairly common last name today. The majority of individuals with the Schäfferle surname can be found in Germany, where it is amongst the 400 most common surnames. The last name is well represented throughout the rest of Europe, most notably in Switzerland and Austria. However, its geographic footprint extends far beyond Europe, with significant presence around the world in countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.
It is believed that the Schäfferle surname has its origin in Germany, with the word itself translated to mean "shepherd". This suggests that the name would have been given to those who worked as shepherds, however the exact origin is unknown.
Today, many individuals with the last name Schäfferle are politicians, businessmen, lawyers, and teachers, though other occupations are well represented as well. Throughout the world, those with the surname often form members-only and private social media networks, blogs, and Petitions Interests websites in order to celebrate and learn more about their shared history. These sites have helped individuals come together to connect, form relationships, and uncover their ancestors’ stories.
Variations of the surname Schäfferle
The surname Schäfferle is a German toponymic surname meaning ‘servant of the open land’ or ‘fields’. It is most typically spelled Schäfferle or Schaeferle, but can also be found in various other spellings and variations. Some of these include Schaeffele, Schaefferle, Schaeffler, Schaferle, Schaffler, Schaffele, Schaffler, Schäffele, Schäffler, Schäferle, Schäffele, Schäffler, Schöfferle, Schöffler, and Schöffele.
The surname is derived from Middle High German ‘schaffe’, meaning maidservant, female laborer, or fieldsman, and the suffix ‘le’, denoting a diminutive form. This suggests that the name may originally have referred to an agricultural worker in medieval Germany.
Throughout the centuries, this surname has spread far and wide due to emigration, resulting in numerous variants popping up in different regions and languages. In English-speaking countries, for example, the surname has been further anglicized, so that it is often encountered as Shaffer, Shafferle, Shaffler, Shaffele, Sheaffer, Scheafer, Shafley, Shaflick, Schafley, and Schafrik. In Latin American countries, the variations Shaefer, Chafer, and Chafferey are often seen. Similarly, the Dutch spelling Schaaf and the Czech Šafář are also encountered.
In conclusion, the surname Schäfferle has numerous variations in spelling as well as various interpretations of the same origin, depending on the language or region. The anglicized or other variant spellings of this surname are often attested in the records of countries outside of Germany.
Famous people with the name Schäfferle
- Dan Schäfferle, German football player
- Adrian Schäfferle, Swiss football player
- Christoph Schäfferle, German artist
- Sarah Schäfferle, German actress
- Arno Schäfferle, German mathematician
- David Schäfferle, American composer
- Christoph Schäfferle, German theologian
- Andreas Schäfferle, German engineer
- Andreas Schäfferle, Swiss hockey player
- Patrick Schäfferle, Swiss ice hockey player
- Christian Schäfferle, German theologian
- Peter Schäfferle, Swiss politician
- Wilhelm Schäfferle, German painter
- Simon Schäfferle, German roboticist
- Brigitte Schäfferle, German journalist
- Philipp Schäfferle, Swiss chess grandmaster
- Sebastian Schäfferle, German musical director
- Hans Schäfferle, Swiss skier
- Carl Schäfferle, German Catholic Bishop
- Katrin Schäfferle, German singer