Surname Schäper - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Heritage: A Personal Narrative on iGENEA DNA Test and the Schäper Surname

Encountering my heritage through iGENEA DNA test led to an emotional journey connecting me to my ancestors, altering my view on the Schäper surname and enhancing my understanding of humanity’s shared lineage.

P. Schäper

Schäper: What does the surname Schäper mean?

The last name Schäper is a German surname of uncertain origin. It is possible that it is a variation of the word "schrapen," which translates to "to scrape", or "to rake", suggesting that the first bearer of the name was a farmer or gardener by trade. It may also be derived from the German word schäper, which translates to "shepherd." This suggests that the first Schäper family may have been shepherds or sheep herders.

Schäper is not a particularly common name. In Germany, it is mainly found in Bavaria and the Rhineland, with a much smaller presence in other regions. By far, the highest concentration of the surname is still in Bavaria and the Rhineland.

Due to its German origins, Schäper carries some of the cultural hallmarks of the country. For example, many Schäper families still adhere to traditional German values of honor, loyalty, and hard work. They also may observe many of the typical German festivals and rituals.

Although the exact origin of the name may remain a mystery, Schäper is an interesting surname with an intriguing history. Today, it is still commonly found in Germany and among those from German background in other countries.

Schäper: Where does the name Schäper come from?

The last name Schäper is most commonly associated with a region in northern Germany, specifically western Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lower Saxony. It is also common in some areas of Schleswig-Holstein. In Germany, Schäper is one of the few names that survived the power struggles between different dynasties and the devastating impact of the Thirty Years War.

In parts of Germany, census records from 1760 show that Schäper was one of the most common family names. In the US, people who trace their roots back to this region started settling in the mid to late 19th century. Although Schäper is not among the top 1000 family names in the US, the name still has several hundred holders in the US today.

There are also people with the last name Schäper in parts of Europe and in Canada. In Europe, the name is most prominent in Germany and in some neighbouring countries due to migration patterns over the past centuries. In Canada, people of German descent with the last name Schäper settled in some provinces, such as Ontario and British Columbia.

Today, the people with the last name Schäper are part of a large diaspora in many parts of the world, from Canada to the US, Europe, and even as far away as South Africa. The Schäper surname is still a reminder of the scattered descendants of those who lived in a certain region hundreds of years ago.

Variations of the surname Schäper

The surname Schäper is of German origin, and its variants include Schaaper, Schaepers, Schaepers, Schaper, Schapers, Schäfers, Schäpers, Schäperser, Schäpfer, Schäpfers, Schäffers, Schöpers, and Schöffers.

These variants are typically found in the western and central parts of Germany, as well as in other parts of Europe such as the Netherlands and parts of Belgium. It is a common occupational surname, deriving from the word "schäper," which means "shepherd" or "guardian."

The earliest known occurrence of the surname is in the 12th century, where it appears in several documents in the form Schäfers, suggesting a person who was a shepherd.

The Schäper surname is particularly common in Westphalia, a region of northwest Germany, and is associated with the town of Moonlight, which is located close to the Dutch border. In records of Westphalia, the name appears numerous times in the forms Schäper, Schöper, Schöffers, and Schäffers. These names are sometimes combined with the suffix “er” to form Schäperser and Schäfferser, as well as Schäpfer and Schäpfers.

In the Netherlands, the name Schaaper appears in records from the 14th century, and is a variant of Schäper. This surname is also found in the Netherlands and Belgium in the forms Schaepers and Schaepers, which are derived from Schäpers.

The surname Schäperser is especially connected to the town of Winterberg in the Sauerland region of northwest Germany. The earliest known occurrence of this surname is in the 15th century in the form Schäperser.

In general, all of these forms of the surname suggest a person with an occupation or connection to herding sheep.

Famous people with the name Schäper

• Johannes Schäper: German long distance track athlete.
• Steven Schäper: American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
• Dennis Schäper: Professional German Comedy Entertainer.
• Sven Schäper: Award-winning German Graphics Designer.
• Susanne Schäper: Award-winning German Film and Television Producer.
• Bent Schäper: Danish international footballer and manager.
• Thomas Schäper: German high-end audio specialist and entrepreneur.
• Hans Schäper: German Football Player.
• Markus Schäper: German Television Producer and Writer.
• Max Schäper: German Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.

Other surnames

SchapelerSchäperkötterSchäpermeierSchäpermeyerSchapersSchäpersSchäpersmannSchapertönsSchäpertöns