Surname Schaffner - Meaning and Origin

Schaffner: What does the surname Schaffner mean?

The last name Schaffner is derived from a German occupational surname meaning "servant" or "attendant". It likely referred to someone who worked for a lord or nobleman and was responsible for delivering messages or food. It is also possible that the name was an occupational name referring to someone who worked in an alehouse or a tavern, which was referred to as a "Schaffn".

The surname is believed to have originated from Northern Germany in Schleswig-Holstein near the Danish border. It spread to bordering countries over the course of generations due to migration, and also became common in the United States.

The name commonly takes variants in spelling including Schafner, Schaefner, Schaffner, Shafner, Shaffner, Schaffner, Schafner, and Safner.

The Schaffner coat of arms features three heads, often referred to as the Triple Head. It is a symbol of honesty and protection and serves as an indicator that Schaffner families were well respected. Some of the first settlers with this name in the U.S. included Adam Schaffner who emigrated in 1794 from Prussia, and George Schaffner who settled in Baltimore in 1828.

Today, the surname Schaffner is used by over 2,400 individuals in the United States, and is even more popular in Germany.

Schaffner: Where does the name Schaffner come from?

The last name Schaffner is most commonly found in Switzerland and Germany today. It is a relatively uncommon surname, although it appears reasonably frequently in some parts of both countries. In Switzerland, the name is particularly widespread in the cantons of Aargau and Zurich. In Germany, the surname appears most often in the states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.

The name is likely derived from the Latin-derived word “Schafer”, meaning “shepherd”. It is believed that the name originally was given to someone who was in charge of looking after flocks of sheep, although this is only speculation. The surname can be found in various spellings, such as Shaffner, Schaafiner, Schaffener, Shaffer and Schaffner.

The word “Schaffner” is still found in some areas in northwestern Europe today, where it is used as a title. In German speaking countries, this term is usually used for someone who is in charge of collecting tickets on a train, for example. In Switzerland, a “Schaffner” is a bus driver who also acts as a conductor, issuing tickets and keeping the passengers in order. In other countries, the word is also used to refer to a conductor or usher at a theatre or other public event.

Variations of the surname Schaffner

The surname Schaffner is derived from German and is sometimes spelled Chafner. Other variants of this surname include Schaffor, Schaefer, Schaffer, Shaffer, Shafner, Shafy and Sheafner. All these spellings are derivatives of the original German spelling of Schaffner and they show how the surname has changed over time.

The derivatives of Schaffner also include other surnames such as Schaaf, Schoffer, Schoffner, Schoefer, Schoefler, Schofer and Schovaere. In Swiss German, the spelling is often adapted as Schaefer, referring to a low-ranking public servant or a sheperd.

Additionally, the name Shaffer is popularly found in areas of Poland as an Anglicized version of the surname Schaffer, while Shafner is found by Ashkenazi Jewish populations. Other variants have also been absorbed by other cultures such as Sheafner, thought to be of Irish origin.

Despite the various spellings and cultural adaptations, the surname Schaffner has remained primarily associated with German roots. It originally was a professional name for a servant who scythed or alternatively a court or custom official. Regardless of the different adapted spellings, the surname Schaffner is thought to have a common Germanic origin.

Famous people with the name Schaffner

• Franklin J. Schaffner: Hollywood film director and producer, known for blockbuster hits such as Patton, Planet of the Apes, Papillon, The Boys from Brazil, and Nicholas and Alexandra.
• Joshua Schaffner: American screenwriter, whose screenplays include Sleight, Sleight: Dark Side, and Cold Comes the Night.
• Philip Schaffner: German-born American theologian, author, and professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, known for his book History of the Christian Church.
• Luc Schaffner: Swiss politician, member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1943 to 1953 and President in 1949.
• Claudia Schaffner: German actress and film producer, known for films such as Mein Jesus, The Monuments Men, and Kiki, Love to Love.
• Mark Schaffner: American film and television director, whose credits include Gomer Pyle, The Big Bang Theory andsupporting roles as director in the Breaking Bad TV series.
• Richard Schaffner: Austrian-born American film producer and director, whose works include The Ten Commandments, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and most recently Love and Mercy.
• George Schaffner: Swiss-born American painter and illustrator, known for his landscapes, city scenes, and portraits of famous figures.
• Nicholas Schaffner: British music journalist, author, and tour guide, known for his books on major figures in rock music, such as Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, and Brian Wilson.
• Emil Schaffner: Bohemian-born American composer, pianist, and conductor, best known for his musical works for Broadway and early Hollywood films and television, such as Anna Lucasta, Till the Clouds Roll By, Annie Get Your Gun, and I'll See You in My Dreams.

Other surnames

Schaffnit