Surname Scherfchen - Meaning and Origin
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Scherfchen: What does the surname Scherfchen mean?
The last name Scherfchen is a Germanic name with roots in Middle High German, originally borne by those who lived in the German region of Franconia. The literal meaning of the word is "little sheep".
In some cases the name could be an occupational surname for a shepherd or a rioter, or a nickname bestowed on someone who was shy or timid; thus the name had a bit of a derogatory connotation. The meaning also suggests that the family was associated with sheep farms and households.
The earliest records of the name date back to 1629, where the name can be found listed in the church records of Church Smaland Niedersachsen in Esebeck, Germany. It is associated with a Johannis Scherfak, the son of Johannis and Kriaan Sterborgen.
Throughout the centuries the name can be found throughout Germany, with Scherfchen being a popular surname in the regions of Berlin, Saxony, the Ruhr Valley and other parts of Northern Germany. Several variants of the name can also be found, such as Scherfen, Scharf and Scharfchen.
Today the name carries a bit of prestige, and it’s associated with successful individuals and families who maintain strong ties to their German roots. As a result, the name has enjoyed a fair amount of popularity in recent years.
Order DNA origin analysisScherfchen: Where does the name Scherfchen come from?
The last name Scherfchen originated in Germany and is still quite common today. It is particularly prevalent in Berlin, where an estimated 1,900 people bear the name, representing 0.2% of the population. The name can also be found in various other German cities and towns, including Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne. The Rheinland region is also known to have many Scherfchen, while the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bayern also have a notable concentration.
Outside of Germany, those who bear the name can also be found in Austria. In this German-speaking country, the largest concentration is found in the capital city of Vienna, where nearly 500 people are known to have the Scherfchen surname. Smaller concentrations can be found in the states of Tyrol and Salzburg.
The name can also be found in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the United States. The last two countries have a relatively small number of individuals of the name, as they are primarily located in German-speaking areas. In the Netherlands, there are about 500 Scherfchen, mostly concentrated in the southern provinces.
The last name is also prevalent in Australia and New Zealand, primarily among those of German and Dutch descent. It is likely that the majority of these individuals are descendants of German immigrants who left their native countries in the early 1900s.
Overall, the last name Scherfchen is still quite common today and can be found in many parts of the world, especially in Germany and its neighbouring countries.
Variations of the surname Scherfchen
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Scherfchen are:
Schärfchen: The ‘ä’ is a German letter and is often written as an ‘ae’. This is the most common spelling variant of Scherfchen.
Schärf, Scharf, Scharfef, Scharfen: A simpler spelling variant, these spellings drop the -chen suffix.
Scherfch, Scherfke, Scherfka, Scharfk: The spellings with a ‘ch’ or ‘ka’ have arisen over time as an attempt to read the German letter ‘ä’.
Scherf, Scharf, Scharfe, Scharfes: Like Schärf, Scharf, Scharfef, Scharfen, these spellings remove the -chen suffix, but they change the ‘f’ to a ‘fe’ or ‘fes’.
Sharf: This variant originated in Yiddish.
Scharfel, Scharfeler, Scharfeles, Scharfella: These spellings are created from the change of the ‘f’ to a ‘fe’ or ‘fel’ and the -chen to -ler, -les, or -lla.
Scharfling, Scharflinger: These spellings change the -chen to -ling or -linger.
Sharplin, Sharplinger: Like Scharfling and Scharflinger, these variants change the -chen to -ling or -linger.
Sharv: This is the last variant of Scherfchen, and it is a variant of Yiddish spelling.
These are the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Scherfchen.
Famous people with the name Scherfchen
- Nadine Scherffchen: A competing swimmer in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
- Johann Scherfchen: An 18th century organist and composer.
- Michael Scherfchen: A German musical producer and artist manager.
- Ralf Scherfchen: A former professional soccer player who played for the German club Schalke 04.
- Ernst Scherfchen: A former German football referee.
- Ernst-Dieter Scherfchen: A German politician and mayor of Dortmund from 1994 to 2005.
- Sebastian Scherfchen: A former professional volleyball player who represented Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
- Ingo Scherfchen: A former professional soccer player who played for the German club Arminia Bielefeld.
- Andreas Scherfchen: A German demo producer and sound engineer.
- Johann Heinrich Scherfchen: An 18th century organ builder.