Surname Scheper - Meaning and Origin
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Scheper: What does the surname Scheper mean?
The last name Scheper is of German origin and is derived from a regional term meaning "shepherd". This surname was at one time particularly common in the region of Westphalia in northwest Germany. It is believed to have been a profession name given to those who worked as shepherds. Historians believe the original settlers were farmers and pastoralists and that the Scheper name refers to an ancestor who may have come from this area.
The last name Scheper has multiple variants and variations such as Schepper, Scheepers, Schepens, Schemers, and Schena. The original spelling of the name would have been Schaffenchkasen, as the word schaffen or sheaves was used to describe the shepherd's occupation. Over time and migration, other forms of the name were adopted in different regions.
Today, the Scheper name can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Eastern Europe. Some famous people with this surname include physicist Burg K. Scheper, Dutch Entrepreneur Thijs Schepers, and German actor Robert Scheper.
The last nameScheper is a reminder of the shepherd ancestry of its bearers and likely has been carried throughout Europe by the Scheper family for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisScheper: Where does the name Scheper come from?
The last name Scheper is most commonly found in the Netherlands, particularly in Friesland, in the northern part of the country. This name originates from when surnames began to be used in the 14th century, with the Scheper name originating from a land owner of the same name whose name derived from the Friesian "skeper". It is likely that the surname became a regional prefix, as it is primarily found in this part of the Netherlands where Friesian is the primary language.
Scheper is also found across European countries including Belgium, England, Denmark, and Germany, as well as in parts of the United States and Canada. In the United States, the surname is commonly found in western states, particularly in California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. In Canada, it is most commonly found in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
In the modern world, the Scheper surname has become a part of many different cultures, languages, and geographic regions. As a result, the surname can be found in a variety of different countries and cultures, and many individuals with the Scheper surname have chosen to retain it in their lives.
Variations of the surname Scheper
The variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Scheper include: Scheepers, Scephers, Skephers, Schephers, Schapers, Sceepers, Schoepers, Schoepher, Schepere, Scapper, Schapker, Sheipers, Shepphers, Schappher and Scheep.
The surname Scheper is of German origin, and many of its variations are found in records of Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
The original meaning of this surname is uncertain, but some believe that ‘Scheper’ is derived from the words ‘sceppan’ meaning ‘to shovel’ or ‘scepen’ meaning ‘to shape’. Additionally, ‘Scheper’ may have derived from the Low German word ‘schepmaker’, meaning one who makes ships.
The variations of the surname have minor differences in spelling, such as with ‘schapker’ and ‘Scheppher’. Over time, multiple variations of the surname have been documented, adding to its popularity.
It is likely that several unrelated persons, with different family names, adopted the similar surname of Scheper over the centuries. Today, the surname is not especially commonly found in many counties, but some individuals with the surname have achieved recognition, such as German actor and voice actor Harald Scheper.
Famous people with the name Scheper
- Jean-Baptiste Schepers (1888–1943), Belgian Olympic sprinter
- Rico Scheper (born 1976), German basketball referee
- Joseph Schepers (1898–1962), Belgian fencer
- Jan Willem Schepers (born 1945), Dutch artist
- Jan Schepers (born 1966), Dutch three-day eventing competitor
- Charles Schepers (1866–1935), Dutch painter
- Guido Schepers (born 1970), German-Italian football manager
- Hyllus Marais Schepers (1873–1948), South African cricketer
- Florent Schepens (1897-1972), Belgian magician
- Asbjørn Scheper Nielsen (born 1942), Danish politician
- Nicole Schepers (born 1955), German political prisoner
- Niels Schepers (born 1959), Dutch Olympic rower
- Bert Schepers (born 1941), Belgian cyclist
- Hendrik Schepers (born 1941), Dutch cyclist
- Boris Schepers (1918–1989), Dutch resistance fighter
- Carl Johannes Schepers (1886–1918), German botanist
- Leo Schepers (born 1960), Belgian cross-country skier
- Maurice Schepers (1920–1998), Belgian racing cyclist
- Stan Schepers (1941-2021), Dutch footballer
- Chris Schepers (born 1974), Dutch racing cyclist