Surname von Scherffer - Meaning and Origin
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von Scherffer: What does the surname von Scherffer mean?
The last name von Scherffer is of Germanic-Austrian origin and is derived from the old German word “scherff” which means either “sheath”, “animal skin” or “battlement”. As such, it likely refers to people who held a position of nobility and power within the region.
The name von Scherffer is often found in areas with strong Germanic or Austrian heritage, such as Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and various parts of Germany. The family may have held the knightly rank of Freiherr, often translated as Baron, which was a title of honour granted to individuals for military service or other achievements during the Middle Ages. Alternatively, the name refers to a family that lived within or near an ancient castle.
During the Second World War, many of the people descended from this name moved to other parts of Europe or fled to North America and other parts of the world. The von Scherffer genealogy is widely studied as many of its members have made their mark as influential thinkers, shapers of history and perceived pioneers of modern society.
Over time, the combination of the surname has evolved and is now seen in various forms, including von Scherlen, von Scharffenberg, and von Scherff. It is a name that continues to be seen as an emblem of strength, loyalty and ancestry in modern Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Scherffer: Where does the name von Scherffer come from?
The last name von Scherffer is most commonly found today in Germany and various countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire including Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia. The name is derived from the ancient German word 'scherfen', which means 'to decide' or 'to judge'.
Originally, the von Scherffer family were of aristocratic descent and belonged to the feudal class. Over the centuries, family members had considerable influence on German politics and culture and many still hold prominent positions in society.
In more recent times, the von Scherffer name has spread to other areas of Europe including France, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and other countries in the former Yugoslavia. There is also some presence of the name in the United States and Canada, mainly due to immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Overall, von Scherffer is one of the most prominent surnames in Central and Eastern Europe. Despite its origin as a noble name, von Scherffer is now considered to be a fairly common surname, with many variants existing in multiple languages.
Variations of the surname von Scherffer
The surname von Scherffer is a German name derived from the Old High German word scharaf which means "boundary". The variants of this name include Scharffer, Sharffer, Scherff, Scherffer, Scherf, Scherf, Scherffer, Scharff, Scharf, Scharfen, Scharfer, Scharffen and Scherfling.
This surname may also be found in other languages, such as Dutch (Van Scherffer), Danish (von Scherff), and Italian (Scherf). In Italy, forms of the surname may include Scherfi and Scherfini.
Variants of von Scherffer which include parts of other German family names include Scharff von Thielen, Scherff von Zerneck, and Scharfenstein (surname).
In Scotland, the surname may take the form of Sharvie. In the United States, the surname may be spelled Scherf, Scherff, Scherfe or Scherffer, as well as other variations.
The surname von Scherffer can also appear with multiple spellings such as Schaerffer, Schaerffffer, Schaerfffer, Schaerffer, Schaerfber, Scharf, Scharff, Scharfber, Scharffen, Scharffeer, Scharffer, Scharfman, and Scharfmann.
In Germany and Austria, the name may also be spelled Scherf, Scherff, Scharf, Scharfe, and Scharffer. Other forms of the name include Scherffel and Scharfenstein.
Variants of von Scherffer in French include Challengeur, Challengueur, Charfiens, Charfiez, Charfier, Chariers, Charpenne, Scherffelt, Scherfels, Scherfontaine, Scherfowne, Schiefelbeer, Schiefele, Schiefener, Schifene, Schifener, Schifenne, Schilleff, Schillef, Shillef, Schilleffs, and Schilleffer.
Famous people with the name von Scherffer
- Max von Scherffer, mathematician born in 1820 who studied cylinder functions and partial differential equations.
- Otto von Scherffer, German poet and military officer who fought in World War I and received the Iron Cross.
- Arnold von Scherff, Prussian general active in the late 1700s.
- Karl von Scherff, German military officer and scholar of Asian languages.
- Kurt von Scherff, Jewish-German director and producer who worked in the German film industry during the 1930s and 1940s.
- Hans von Scherff, German officer and member of the Nazi Party active in World War II.
- Eugen von Scherff, Austrian diplomat active in initiating the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy in 1867.
- August von Scherff, German industrialist of the mid-1800s who established the Philips-Scherff electricity company.
- Rudolf von Scherff, German general active in World War I and recipient of the prestigious Order of the Black Eagle.
- Gustav von Scherff, German philosopher and theologian who lived in the 1700s.
- Charlotte von Scherff, German baroness and botanist who wrote on medical plants in different parts of the world.
- Paul von Scherff, German soldier and colonial administrator active in German South-West Africa.