Surname Schriefer - Meaning and Origin

Schriefer: What does the surname Schriefer mean?

The last name Schriefer is of German origin and is believed to have begun as a nickname for an individual who was referred to as “Schrieber” or “Schriever” meaning one who shouts or screams. This name is derived from the Middle High German “schrieven” which means to scream.

Alternate spellings of the name are Schreifer, Schreyer, Schreier, Schroever, Schreyer, Schrier, Schriefer, and Schrieber. These spellings vary based on language; in Dutch, Schroever is favored, in German, and Schreier is favored, and in English, Schriefer is favored.

It is believed that the Schriefer name originates from an area of Germany known as the Rhineland-Palatinate, located down the Rhine River and near the French border. This area was known as an area of highly fertile soils and it was likely that those with this last name were originally farmers that provided the surrounding villages with food.

Schriefer is a fairly common last name in Germany; however, it is also found in the United States, with many immigrants from Germany after World War II. Despite its German origin, Schriefer is a unique and distinct last name that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Schriefer: Where does the name Schriefer come from?

The last name Schriefer is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, and other countries of German-speaking Europe.

In Germany, the name is thought to have first appeared in the Palatinate region during the early 19th century. It is now found in all major German cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. The name is most common in the western, northern, and the southern parts of the country.

In the United States, the name was brought by German immigrants who began settling in the country during the 19th century. It is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New York, and other states where high concentrations of German settlers resided. There is also a Schriefer Township in Pennsylvania, which still bears the family name.

Today, the surname Schriefer is widely distributed in Germany, the United States, and other parts of the world that played host to large German migrations. In addition to these countries, Canada, Australia, and Brazil also have significant numbers of bearers of the surname.

Variations of the surname Schriefer

The surname Schriefer is a variation of the German surname Schreiber, which is derived from the Middle High German word "schriben," meaning "to write." Other variants of the family name include: Schryver, Schryffer, Schreyer, Schraeper, Schryfel, Schrieffer, Schryver, Schryber, Schryf, Schriffer, Schreyver, Schreiver, Schriefer, Schwartzenegger, Schreifers, Schreiber, Schreifers, Scheifers, Zschreiber and Schryer. All of these surnames ultimately stem from the same root word meaning "scribe" or "writer."

The Schriefer spelling of the surname can be found in records dating back to the 17th century in Germany. It can still be found today in Germany, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

In the United States, the Schriefer spelling may have been adopted due to a combination of both immigration and phonetic spelling. It is still found more commonly in the south-central states — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas — where Germans settled in the 19th century. It is also found in other parts of the country, especially on the east coast and Midwest.

In Canada, the surname is found with a variety of spelling forms, with Schriefer as the most prevalent. It is especially common in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.

In Australia, the Schriefer spelling is found in Victoria and New South Wales. It was most likely brought to Australia by German immigrants during the 19th century.

Overall, the Schriefer spelling is an uncommon variation of the Schreiber surname. It is mainly found in regions that were either colonized by German immigrants or where German immigrants eventually settled.

Famous people with the name Schriefer

• Alexander Schriefer, a German TV director
• Brock Schriefer, a competitive bodybuilder
• Charles Schriefer, a prolific American art dealer
• Daniel Schriefer, the first American musher
• Donald Schriefer, a broadcast journalist and professor
• Errol Schriefer, a professional bowler
• Frank Schriefer, a writer and self-help expert
• Michael Schriefer, a cinematographer
• Kenneth Schriefer, a pen and ink illustrator
• Marty Schriefer, an author and corporate executive
• Patt Schriefer, a novelist and playwright
• Peter Schriefer, an experimental artist
• Richard Schriefer, a mathematician
• Robert Schriefer, an information technology pioneer
• Stephen Schriefer, a noted political strategist
• Thomas Schriefer, a Swiss physicist
• William Schriefer, a geologist

Other surnames

Schriefers