Surname Schaifel - Meaning and Origin

Schaifel: What does the surname Schaifel mean?

The last name Schaifel is of German origin. It is thought to be derived from the word 'schiefl', which means 'one-sided', 'awry', or 'crack'. It is a habitational name, which is a type of surname derived from the location of a person's dwelling. Thus, this surname was likely adopted by someone who lived in a place referred to as 'Schiefl'.

The origin of this place name is unclear, but it is believed to be related to the old German dialect words 'schi', which means 'slant', and 'fels', which means 'rock'. It is possible that this name was used for a place where rocks were found tilted to an angle. Alternatively, the name might refer to a place where rocks were cut, shaped, or sawed diagonally.

The name Schaifel could also be derived from the old Middle High German verb 'schielen', meaning 'to squint'. This was a common practice among people in the Middle Ages, which was said to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, it is likely that the surname was adopted by someone whose ancestors squinted and used this gesture to protect themselves.

Whatever its origin, the last name Schaifel has endured through centuries, becoming a part of family history and a source of pride for those who bear it.

Schaifel: Where does the name Schaifel come from?

The last name Schaifel is an uncommon name today, with multiple variants including Schaifele, Schaeffele, Schaiffele, Schaiffeler, and Schäfeler. It appears to have originated in Germany, most commonly in the region of Bavaria and along the German/Austrian border. The earliest known relatives bearing the Schaifel surname lived and worked in these areas in the 1600s and 1700s, and their descendants emigrated to the United States in the 1800s.

Today, the Schaifel name appears to be most common in the United States, particularly in states that received a large number of German immigrants during the 19th Century such as Iowa, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. While rare elsewhere in the world, small populations exist in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Interestingly, genetic studies have traced some Schaifel families to areas in Eastern Europe and around the Baltic Sea, indicating the Schaifels were either part of earlier migrations or adopted the name at a later stage. Today, both the Schaifel and Schaeffele variants might have been mistranslated in some records, causing confusion.

As a result of immigration and mistranslations, it is difficult to track the number of Schaifel families worldwide. However, as the last name appears to be most heavily concentrated in the United States, it can be assumed that the majority of individuals with the name Schaifel or its variants live in that part of the world today.

Variations of the surname Schaifel

The surname Schaifel can have many different variants, spellings and surnames derived from the same origin.

Variants and spellings can vary depending on the particular region of the world where the name is found. In some areas, the name Shaifel, Schayfel, Shyeffel, Schiefel, Scheiffel, Schiffel, Schiefer, Scheifler, Scheifell, Schiffeler, Scheifl, Schuyle, and Shouile may be used interchangeably.

In Germany, the surname Schäffel can also be found, which is a variant of Schiefel. In Dutch speaking countries like the Netherlands and parts of Belgium, it is sometimes spelled either Schuyle or Scheuvel.

In the United States, the spelling Shar likes is most common. The variant forms of Schaifel are often interchangeable, with different branches of the family sometimes changing the spelling of their family name at different points in time.

In Jewish families, the surname Schaifel may have been changed to Seiff upon emigration to the US. A variant of Schaifel, Shevael can also be found among Jewish families.

Even with all of the different possible variants and spellings, the origin of all forms of the surname Schaifel is the same. The name is derived ultimately from the German word Schief, meaning oblique.

Famous people with the name Schaifel

• Jürgen Schäfer: German politician, grew up in North Rhine-Westphalia and is a member of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group.
• Paul Schäffer: German physicist and virologist who worked as a research professor at the Freie Universität in Berlin.
• Hagen Schäfer: German cyclist who won three Olympic gold medals and one bronze in cycling at the Summer Olympic Games.
• Werner Schäfer: German pilot who served in World War I and was decorated with the Iron Cross and later became an assistant professor of digital media technology at the Karl Franzens University in Graz, Austria.
• Eva Schäfer: German sociologist and professor at the Technical University Munich, specializing in European Studies.
• Gunnar Schäfer: German footballer who played as a midfielder for teams such as Bayern Munich and later became Olympian Olympian for Team West Germany.
• Manfred Schäfer: German aeronautical engineer who served as technical director in the defense industry and authored one of the first space science books in German.
• Hans Schäfer: German former footballer who played as a forward for clubs such as FC Nürnberg and 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
• Karl Schäfer: Austrian figure skater who competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics and won a silver medal in the men's event.
• Klaus Schäfer: German former professional hockey player who played for teams such as Eisbären Berlin and Iserlohn Roosters.

Other surnames

SchaifeleSchaifler