Surname Schefzick - Meaning and Origin
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Schefzick: What does the surname Schefzick mean?
The last name Schefzick is derived from a Germanic surname, and likely originated in an area of Germany along the Rhine River. It is derived from the German word "schoffze", meaning “shield". As such it was probably a name given to a person, group, or location that was well-protected. The suffix -ick is typically associated with a diminutive, indicating that the original bearer of the name was someone of short stature. It also likely signifies the name-bearer was from a small town, or village among the river and forests of what is now western Germany.
Historically, the Schefzick surname found its primary legacy among families of farmers, millers and shoemakers. As such it suggests the name-bearer was someone who performed manual labor or craftsmanship, particularly in the fundamental tasks necessary for communities to sustain and maintain themselves in the 18th or 19th centuries. The name holds various spellings including Shefzik, Shefetzick, and Scheffzik and can be found in records across countries in Western and Central Europe.
Schefzick is a rare surname today, but those bearing this family name likely descend from a long line of humble and hardworking individuals who helped build and sustain their communities for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisSchefzick: Where does the name Schefzick come from?
The last name Schefzick is mainly concentrated in Germany and the United States, two countries commonly associated with Germanic culture.
In Germany, the name is particularly present in the north and east, though it can still be traced in small numbers as far south as Bavaria. As of the latest data from the 2019 German census, there are around 700 Schefzicks living in the country, with the highest concentrations in Bavaria and the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein. Interestingly, the last name’s presence in northern Germany is quite old, with many Schefzicks found in census data from the 1600s.
The United States is home to around 4,200 people with the last name, with some of the biggest fighting settlements around Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York. Furthermore, the majority of US-based Schefzicks are of German (as opposed to Czech / Austrian) descent, and primarily migrated during the early to mid-19th century.
Today, the name still enjoys some prevalence in both Germany and the US, though where there are large communities of Schefzicks is unconfirmed. Furthermore, it appears that Schefzick is a somewhat rare Germanic surname in a global sense, with it being even more scarce in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Schefzick
Schefzick is a German surname believed to be of Jewish origin. It is derived from the given name 'Schef,' a short form of the Yiddish name 'Shefa,' meaning 'good fortune.' The most common variants or spellings of the surname include Schefsky, Schefzik, Schefeski, Shafesky, and Shefsky. These variants are all interchangeable.
The origin of the Schefzick surname mostly appears to be from Germany or Eastern Europe, where the Yiddish language was prominent. Other variants of this surname have been found in the United States, England, Canada, France and Russia.
In Germany, the variants of Schefzick can be found in many German Jewish censuses and directories from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The surname Schefzick is generally found in its shortened form in most countries. Other variations may include Schefesky, Schefzyk, Shefski, Shaffesky, Shefsky and Shifsker.
In the United States and Canada, there are more Americanized versions of the surname, including Schefcik, Schefchek, Shefcik and Schefcic.
It is also possible to find variations of the surname in other languages, such as Shsaifshsky and Shchapoushchi in Russia, Sheftsic and Sheftsik in Ukraine, Schefeski in France and Schefski in England.
Overall, the surname Schefzick has many variants and spellings, and can be an Americanized, German, French, Russian, or Ukrainian surname. Each variant is a representation of its Yiddish origin, meaning 'good fortune.'
Famous people with the name Schefzick
- Beatrice Schefzyck: Swedish actress
- Lila Schefzyck: German snowboarder
- Luisa Schefzyck: German TV actress
- Marie-Helene Schefzyck: German artist
- Adam Schefzyck: American freestyle skier
- Sascha Schefzyck: German photographer
- Max Schefzick: German stuntman
- Johannes Schefzyck: German stuntman
- Alexander Schefzyck: German stuntman
- Frank Schefzyck: American entrepreneur