Surname Schafranski - Meaning and Origin
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Schafranski: What does the surname Schafranski mean?
The last name Schafranski is derived from the Middle High German words "schaffe", meaning "shepherd" or "to take care of", and "ranz", meaning "ravine". It is an occupational surname, meaning that it was originally given to someone who was employed as a shepherd. The earliest records of the name date back to 1559 in Silesia, a historical region located in parts of present-day Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
The family that bears the Schafranski name is thought to have been German in origin and has subsequently spread across Central and Eastern Europe. Today, it is most commonly found in countries such as Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine.
The Schafranski name is significant because it reflects the importance of rural employment during the early modern period in Europe. Before the agricultural revolution, most families lived a largely rural lifestyle and had to depend on the fruits of their labours for their sustenance. The Schafranski name may have been given to someone who was skilled at tending sheep in order to provide wool, meat, and hide for their family and community.
The Schafranski surname is also symbolic of the resilience of European farmers. Despite changes in technology, this family has persevered from the Middle Ages to the present day. This suggests that there is a strong sense of familial pride associated with the Schafranski name. People bearing this surname may be proud of their heritage, and their links to a long tradition of hard work and dedication.
Order DNA origin analysisSchafranski: Where does the name Schafranski come from?
The last name Schafranski is primarily found in Germany, Poland, and other Eastern European countries such as Ukraine and Russia. The surname is of German origin, likely derived from the Middle High German word “schafranz”, meaning “shepherd”. As such, the earliest instances of the surname were likely applied to somebody employed as a shepherd.
In Germany, the last name Schafranski is most common in the northern parts of the country, in regions such as Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig Holstein. In Poland, it is most common in the western parts of the country, in Masovian and Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
In terms of numbers, the surname Schafranski is not especially common today. As of 2012, there were only 7,245 people with that surname in both Germany and Poland combined, making it relatively rare.
Outside of Europe, the surname Schafranski is also found in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. For example, in the United States, the surname is most common in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York -- states with large populations of German and/or Eastern European heritage.
Overall, the last name Schafranski is relatively rare today, mostly found in Germany and Poland as well as North America. However, it is still likely to be encountered in countries with a large population of German and Eastern European ancestry.
Variations of the surname Schafranski
The surname Schafranski (or Shafransky) has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The Polish spelling of the name is Szafranski, and in Yiddish, it is Schfarfanksy. The surname is derived from the profession of a furrier, or one who skins and works with animal skins, specifically the Polish word “szafran”, which means saffron. Similarly, the surname Szafranowicz also has the same origin and is pronounced almost identically.
Other variations on the surname Schafranski include Schfarfsky, Schfarfski, Schfarcansky, and Schfarcanski. While the last three are mostly found in Russian speaking countries, the surname Schfarcan can also be found in some German speaking countries, such as Switzerland.
Variations on the surname Shafransky include Shafran, Shafranskij, Shafranovich, and Shafranovski. Similarly, variants such as Shafranik, Shafranskyi, Shafranskaia, and Shafranskay are also found in various Slavic countries, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
The variants of the surname Schafranski all have the same origin, but can have subtle differences depending on the language the name originates from or is currently used in.
Many of these variants, spellings, and surnames can be difficult to keep track of, but understanding their origins can help one understand the various versions of the Schafranski surname.
Famous people with the name Schafranski
- Carl Schafranski: Carl Schafranski is a professional hockey player and executive. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.
- Michael Schafranski: Michael Schafranski is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was selected as an All-Star in 1991.
- Steve Schafranski: Steve Schafranski is a former professional American football player who played as a safety for the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League.
- Shane Schafranski: Shane Schafranski is a professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- Greg Schafranski: Greg Schafranski is an American professional golfer who has competed on both the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour.
- Mark Schafranski: Mark Schafranski is a former American soccer player who competed in Major League Soccer from 1996 to 2001.
- Doug Schafranski: Doug Schafranski is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Schafranski Enterprises, a technology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Audrey Schafranski: Audrey Schafranski is a Canadian actress known for roles in movies such as The Matrix Reloaded and Wonder Woman.
- Ryan Schafranski: Ryan Schafranski is an American ice hockey player. He currently plays for the Binghamton Devils in the AHL.
- Valerie Schafranski: Valerie Schafranski is a Canadian drag queen and singer-songwriter who is known for appearing on the third season of Canada's Drag Race.