Surname Schafmeister - Meaning and Origin
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Schafmeister: What does the surname Schafmeister mean?
The last name Schafmeister is of Germanic origin and translates to 'shepherd master'. It is most likely derived from the Middle High German word 'schafmeister', created from the elements 'schaf' (meaning 'sheep') and 'meister' (meaning 'master' or 'lord'). The name is likely a reference to a man who owned or managed a flock of sheep and their associated land.
In the Middle Ages, shepherds and their families were among the poorest people in German society. This is reflected in the meaning of Schafmeister, which describes a person in a slightly higher class of livestock keeper than an ordinary shepherd.
Throughout history, the surname Schafmeister has been found in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Netherlands. In the United States, Schafmeister is the 937th most popular last name. Today, the Schafmeister surname still carries strong historical ties and continues to be seen scattered across Europe and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisSchafmeister: Where does the name Schafmeister come from?
The last name Schafmeister is particularly common in Germany, particularly in the region of Lower Saxony. Records indicate that the name became relatively widespread during the Middle Ages. It is likely that the Schafmeister family emigrated from this region during times of war and unrest to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia.
Today, you can find the Schafmeister family living in several countries around the world. In the United States, the most common states with the Schafmeister name are Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Florida, and New York. In Europe, members of the Schafmeister family reside mostly in the countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, England, and Scotland.
The name Schafmeister is also quite common in Latin America, particularly Brazil, where family members are of German descent. It is likely that the Schafmeister family members living in Brazil are the descendents of German immigrants who moved to the region during the 1800s. Finally, the Schafmeister name can also be found in the countries of Australia and New Zealand.
In summary, the last name Schafmeister is most common today in Germany and the United States, followed by countries in Europe, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Schafmeister
The surname Schafmeister is a German occupational surname meaning "shepherd master," derived from the Middle High German words "schaf" (sheep) and "meister" (master). It is, however, a fairly uncommon surname, with fewer than 500 people carrying it in the United States today.
Variations on the spelling of the surname include Schaffmeister, Schaffmaißter, Schaffmeister, Schafmaister, Schafmeister, Schafmister, Schefmeister, Schefmaister, and Schefmeister.
In some areas, the surname Schafmeister has been anglicized to Shepherd, Sheppard, Shepperd, Sheppard, and Shepperdson, or alternatively lordified, as in SheppardEsquire or ShepperdLord.
Alternate spellings and forms of the surname also exist within Germany, including Schäfmeister, Schaefmeister, Schaffmeier, Schaffmeir, Schafmeier, Schaffemeyer, Schaffmeyer, Schaffamer, Schafeimer, Seefmeister, Schaefenmaier, Schefennmaier, and Schaffenmeier.
Additionally, there are many related surnames derived from places in Germany where Schafmeister is common. These include Schafmeisterheim, Schafmeisterhof, Schafmeisterwald, and Schafmeistern, amongst others.
In some cases, people with the surname Schafmeister may have been referred to as simply "sheep master," which in both German and English could be abbreviated to "SHM" or "Category:Sheepherd."
Famous people with the name Schafmeister
- Rainer Schafmeister (philosopher, psychologist, researcher, university lecturer, author)
- Henning Schafmeister (singer, songwriter, musician, record producer)
- Dieter Schafmeister (painter, sculptor and stage designer)
- Ursula Schafmeister (opera singer)
- Jens Schafmeister (actor)
- Ernst Ludwig Schafmeister (mathematician and natural scientist)
- Carl Schafmeister (classical music archivist, composer, musicologist and Systems Scientist)
- Wolfgang Schafmeister (German footballer)
- Hermann Schafmeister (German mathematician)
- Karina Schafmeister (Olympic swimmer)
- Christoph Schafmeister (chef)
- Hans Schafmeister (German musician)
- Franz Schafmeister (musician, composer, conductor and arranger)
- August Schafmeister (German theologian, philosopher, historian and philologist)
- Reinhold Schafmeister (co-founder and principal of a school in Sweden)
- Robert Schafmeister (German-speaking director and writer)
- Paul Schafmeister (theologian, counsellor and nobleman)
- Hans Schafmeister (Austrian colonel and military officer)
- Wilhelm Schafmeister (German soldier)
- Bernhard Schafmeister (German art historian)