Surname Shoff - Meaning and Origin

Shoff: What does the surname Shoff mean?

The last name Shoff is an English surname derived from the Old English word “scōl” which means “barracks” or “hut”. The word later became “shoff” which was the chief's house. This surname was probably originally given to someone who lived near a chief’s barracks or hut.

The earliest record of the name Shoff is in 11th century Yorkshire, England. It is believed that this surname was adopted by William de Schawe, a member of the landed gentry who lived in Adel, Yorkshire. It was in the second half of the 12th century that the Shoff family moved to Lincolnshire, England and began to spread across the country.

Despite being a relatively uncommon name, Shoff is found throughout the United Kingdom and the United States. People with this name can be found in a variety of occupations from clergymen to farmers. Some notable people with the name include Jacob Shoff, an American Revolutionary War soldier and Jacob Shoff, a Civil War veteran from Rockingham County, Virginia.

The Shoff family motto is “Perseverance”, a fitting description for a family that has been enduring for hundreds of years!

Shoff: Where does the name Shoff come from?

The surname Shoff is a German and Jewish name derived from the Middle High German word 'schoff' meaning 'magistrate' or 'sheriff'. The earliest recorded recording of the surname dates from the 13th century in the form of 'Hans Schoff' and the name was common throughout Germany (especially the Palatinate on the Rhine) during the Middle Ages. Today, the surname is still common in the German-speaking world, particularly in the areas which were historically part of Germany such as Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. In the United States of America, the Shoff name is primarily concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio and California. According to Ancestry.com, the Shoff surname is ranked 233,508th in popularity in the United States, with an estimated 40,384 people bearing the name. Shoff is also a common surname in other English-speaking countries such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, where it is currently the 4,923rd most popular name.

Variations of the surname Shoff

The surname Shoff is a Germanic surname, most likely descending from the Middle High German word "schov". It is thought to have been adopted by individuals who had a connection to a region in either Switzerland or Bavaria. A variety of spellings have since developed, ranging from Shoff, Schoff, Schoffe, Schof, Schoffel, Schoffler, Shoffer, Shoffel, Shufeldt, Shufaldt, and Schouffele.

The surnames with a 'uf' can be linked to the Schoufele variant, which is derived from the Swiss origin. The variant Shoffer is the Americanized adaptation of Schoffer, originally from the Canton of Zug. Shoffel is thought to be a variation of Schoffel, which is derived from the village of Schoffeln in the Switzerland region of St. Gallen.

The variant Schufeldt is of Jewish origin. It is developed from the German surname Schoufeld, which is likely derived from a nickname given to someone known to be stubborn or strong-willed. It could also be a derivative of Chapel, as 'Chapel' can be seen as a variation of 'Schoff.' Lastly, Shouffele itself may be derived from a location called Schouffeld in Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland.

Overall, the surname Shoff has numerous variants and spellings that have developed over time, with varying origins ranging from Swiss, German and Jewish. The different spellings are evidence of how this surname has adapted over time, reflecting the changing culture of names over the course of centuries.

Famous people with the name Shoff

• Eric Shoff: American Olympic skeleton racer who competed at the 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2002 Winter Olympics.
• Dorit Shoff: Deputy speaker of the Knesset (Israel parliament) in the 14th Knesset
• George Shoff: U.S. Representative from Iowa and a major landowner in northeast Iowa
• Kinley Shoff: Professional snowboarder and skateboarder
• Steven Shoff: American jazz keyboardist, composer, and arranger
• Chad Shoff: An amateur wrestler and former American football player
• Brandt Shoff: Minister, composer, and educator who had an active career in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Abby Shoff: American country music/pop singer and songwriter
• Jeff Shoff: American footballplayer who played in the National Football League for two years
• Brandon Shoff: Director of The Washington Ballet and a former professional ballet dancer

Other surnames

ShofeShofich