Surname Scherffenberg - Meaning and Origin
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Scherffenberg: What does the surname Scherffenberg mean?
The surname Scherffenberg is of German origin. It is a topographic name that was given to someone who lived near a ravine or a gorge. It is derived from the Old German words "scherf" and "berg," which translate to ravine and mountain, respectively.
The earliest trace of the surname Scherffenberg dates back to the 16th century in what was the Holy Roman Empire, which was an agglomeration of German-speaking states in what is modern-day Germany. The earliest recorded instances of the name were contained in documents belonging to Andreas Scherffenberg in Altdackel, Silesia in 1549 and Wilheimis Scherffenberg in Köln, Germany in 1562.
Scherffenberg is a relatively rare surname. Its modern-day prevalence is largely confined to Germany—records show that almost 7,500 people with the name currently live in the country. However, due to immigration from Germany to other parts of Europe and the United States, the name is also found in a number of other countries.
This surname typically appears in records in its anglicized form of Schroffenberg or Sherffenberg. Many descendants of the name have shortened it to Shaffer, although this spelling is less common in Germany and is more often found in the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisScherffenberg: Where does the name Scherffenberg come from?
The last name Scherffenberg is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the website forebears.io, the name is particularly concentrated in the eastern German states of Brandenburg and Berlin, where more than 2,500 people bear the name. It is also found in other parts of Germany, and in many other European countries as well, including France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
The surname is of Germanic origin and was initially a reference to a person who lived in the town of Scharfenberg in the state of Thuringia. It was also adopted by people who were employed by the Scharfenberg family, such as servants and laborers. Over time, the surname was adopted by other Germanic families and became widespread throughout Europe.
Recent branches of the Scherffenberg family have spread throughout modern-day Europe and North America. It is most popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Today, thousands of people in many countries around the world bear the last name Scherffenberg.
Variations of the surname Scherffenberg
The surname Scherffenberg is a German name usually associated with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It derived from two elements: the middle German word 'scherf' meaning 'sharp' and 'berg' meaning 'mountain'; thus the translation of 'Scherffenberg' is 'sharp mountain'.
The variants of this surname include Schererenberg, Sharrett, Scharrenberg, Scherrenberg, Scherrenburg, Scharrer, Sharret, Shardburg, Scherrenberger, Scherfenberg, Schröerfenberg, Schürfenberg, Scherfeburg, Scharfenberg, Sharffenberger, Shrefenberger and Scharffenberger.
Various spelling variations of the name Scherffenberg exist in archives dating back to as early as the 14th century. During the period of the Middle Ages, when the name first appeared, records showed that the spelling of a surname was not yet standardised, and so this name has many variations.
The surname Scherffenberg is sometimes confused with the German name of Scheffler, which is an occupational name. Both names may be found in combination with 'burg' (fortified town) or 'berg' (mountain).
There are some regional variants of the name Scherffenberg, such as Scherffers/Scherevitz in Northern Germany, and Scherfring/Scherensz in Western Germany. There are also variants written in Dutch dialects, such as Schar, Scharel, Scharring and Scharringh.
In some cases, the ending 'er' or 'en' has been added to the name, properly forming ‘Scherffenberg’ as such.
The surnames Scherffenberg, Schererenberg, Sharrett, Scharrenberg, Scherrenberg, Scherrenburg, Scharrer, Sharret, Shardburg, Scherrenberger, Scherfenberg, Schröerfenberg, Schürfenberg, Scherfeburg, Scharfenberg, Sharffenberger, Shrefenberger and Scharffenberger are all of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Scherffenberg
- Gerhard Scherfenberg, a German electrical engineer who designed an automated machine for dyeing yarn, making him a successful entrepreneur in the textile industry.
- August von Scherfenberg, an Austrian general during World War I who was known for his successful command of troops in the Battle of Jakobstadt.
- Erich Scherfenberg, a prominent German zoologist from the 1800s who conducted important research on the anatomy of spiders, crabs, and shellfish.
- Lazarus von Scherfenberg, a German historian from the 1700s who was known for his writings on the politics of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Helmut Scherfenberg, a German economist who was an expert on international taxation law and who served as the president of the Federal Tax Tribunal for many years.
- Ulrich von Scherfenberg, a German composer from the 1700s who composed the cantata “The Death of Jesus.”
- Albert Scherfenberg, a German historian and professor of ancient history at the Humboldt University of Berlin who wrote several books on Roman Imperial Times.
- Christian Ludwig von Scherfenberg, a German author in the 1800s who wrote the book “Treasury of German Wit and Wisdom.”
- Friederike Helena von Scherfenberg, a German artist during the 1700s who was renowned for her floral watercolour paintings.
- Ludwig von Scherfenberg, a German soldier and merchant from the 1700s who was known for his bravery in battle and successful career in international business.