Surname Scherf - Meaning and Origin
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Q. Scherf
read moreScherf: What does the surname Scherf mean?
The last name Scherf is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “schurf” which means “shoemaker” or “cobbler.” It is most likely an occupational name, given to those who worked as a shoe maker or cobbler before the process was industrialized. During the medieval period, shoes were made and repaired by individuals using tools such as hammers, awls, and dyes, to create footwear. The first recorded bearer of the last name Scherf was Rudolf der Schurf, who was recorded in the year 1361 in the Latin language document “Codex Mayenfurtensis.”
Historians associate the surname with several regions in Germany, particularly the Rhineland Palatinate and the Lower Saxony. This means that the Scherf family likely originated in these areas and then gradually spread to other parts of the world, such as the USA and Canada.
Today, the last name is quite common in German speaking countries and it can be found in records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the word "schurf" which is a occupationally derived first name. Additionally, notable people with the surname include the German author and director Herbert Scherf who wrote the novel “Cabaret” and the animation director Christoph Scherf.
Order DNA origin analysisScherf: Where does the name Scherf come from?
The surname Scherf is of German origin, and is particularly common in the German-speaking area of Europe. In Germany, LDS records indicate that the Scherf surname is concentrated in the northern regions of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein, as well as Bavaria. It is also present in the German-speaking regions of Austria and Switzerland, although it is less common in these countries than in Germany.
Within Germany, the highest frequency of the name Scherf is in the district of Gütersloh in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It is also found at moderate levels in other parts of the region, such as Dortmund and the Ruhr region. In Lower Saxony, the name is especially common in the district of Cuxhaven, and is relatively uncommon in other areas.
In the United States, the Scherf surname is primarily found in the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. A significant amount of immigration from Germany during the nineteenth century led to the establishment of a substantial German community in the United States. As a result, the Scherf surname has been present in the United States for many generations.
The Scherf surname is also relatively common in Canada, especially in the province of Ontario, which has a large population of German-Canadian communities. The Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba also have significant populations of people bearing the Scherf surname.
Overall, the name Scherf is primarily found in German-speaking parts of Europe and North America, and is particularly popular in Germany, the United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Scherf
Scherf is a German and Dutch surname originating from northern Germany, as well as Dutch and Belgian towns. Variants of the surname spelling include Scherff, Scherph, Scherfh, Scearff, Scharf, Scearf and Scearfe, and can also be seen as Schirf, Sharf, Scharfh and Schirff.
In Germany the surname originates from the German word "scherf" meaning division or part. It is likely to originate from a place name, such as Scherffenberg, a mountain in central Germany or from the name of a medieval lord. This place name (in various spellings) was likely adopted as a surname in several regions since the 13th century.
In the Netherlands, the Scherf surname originates from the Dutch word "scheer", meaning a cutting tool. An example of this is the Dutch town Scherpenzeel, derived from the Dutch words 'scheer' (to scissor) and 'zeel' (sickle). This town was likely established in the Middle Ages, and the locals took the town name as a surname, becoming known as the Scherf family. In Belgium, the surname is seen in multiple places taking on different spellings.
Due to the widespread prevalence and multiple spellings of the surname, members of this family may have married into different regions of Europe and taken on different variation of the surname based on the local dialects. Several branches of people bearing the surname Scherf, Scherff, Scharf, and their derivatives likely exist around Europe and the US today.
Famous people with the name Scherf
- Peter Scherf: German politician and former president of the Federal Council of West Germany.
- Heinz Scherf– German politician and former mayor of Bremen.
- Ricarda Scherf: German politician, governor of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- Rob Scherf: American football player.
- Friedrich Scherf: German chemist, credited with the discovery of zeolite.
- Mustafa Scherf: Lebanese singer and composer.
- Captain Ron Scherf: American pilot and Navy veteran.
- Laura Scherf: Canadian visual artist.
- Rob Scherf: American politician and former mayor of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
- Mary Scherf: American visual artist, painter.