Schaefer is an alternative spelling and cognate for the German word ''schäfer'', meaning 'shepherd', which itself descends from the

Old High German Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050. There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...

'' scāphare''. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the anglicised forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common surnames.

Schaefer

;Born in 1800–1899 *

Arnold Schaefer Arnold Dietrich Schaefer (16 October 1819 in Seehausen, today part of Bremen – 19 November 1883 in Bonn) was a German ancient historian, who was a professor of history at the University of Greifswald (1857-1865) and then at the University of Bon ...

(1819–1883), German historian *

Germany Schaefer Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer (February 4, 1876 – May 16, 1919) was a second baseman, first baseman and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Newark Pepper, New ...

(1877–1919), American professional baseball player *

Jacob Schaefer Sr Jacob Schaefer Sr. (February 2, 1855 – March 8, 1910), nicknamed "the Wizard", was a professional carom billiards player, especially of the straight rail and balkline games, and was posthumously inducted into the Billiard Congress of Amer ...

(1850–1910), American professional billiards player *

Jacob Schaefer Jr Jacob Schaefer Jr. (born October 18, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., died November 10, 1975 in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.) was a professional carom billiards player with German grandparentage, a specialist in balkline games, and was inducted into the ...

(1894–1975) American professional billiards player * Jacob Schaefer (composer) (1888–1936), American Jewish composer and conductor * Marie Charlotte Schaefer (1874-1927), American physician * Rudolph Jay Schaefer I (1863–1923), American businessman ;Born in 1900–1949 *

Walter V. Schaefer Walter Vincent Schaefer (December 10, 1904 – June 15, 1986) was an American jurist and educator. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Schaefer graduated from Hyde Park High School and then received his bachelor's and law degrees from University of C ...

(1904-1986), American jurist and educator *

Vincent Schaefer Vincent Joseph Schaefer (July 4, 1906 – July 25, 1993) was an American chemist and meteorologist who developed cloud seeding. On November 13, 1946, while a researcher at the General Electric Research Laboratory, Schaefer modified clouds in the B ...

(1906–1993), American chemist and meteorologist who developed cloud seeding *

Jack Warner Schaefer Jack Warner Schaefer (November 19, 1907 – 24 January 1991) was an American writer known for his Westerns. His best-known works are the 1949 novel ''Shane'', voted the greatest western novel, and the 1964 children's book ''Stubby Pringle's C ...

(1907–1991), American fiction author *

Milner Baily Schaefer Milner Baily ("Benny") Schaefer (1912 in Cheyenne, Wyoming – 1970 in San Diego, California William Donald Schaefer William Donald Schaefer (November 2, 1921 – April 18, 2011) was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. As a Democrat, he was the 45th mayor of Baltimore from December 1 ...

(1921–2011), American politician *

Udo Schaefer Udo Schaefer (October 19, 1926 – August 30, 2019) was a German lawyer and a theologian of the Baháʼí Faith The Baháʼí Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity ...

(born 1926), German Bahá'í author *

Will Schaefer Willis H. Schaefer (November 23, 1928 – June 30, 2007) was an American composer nominated for an Emmy Award for his work. He wrote background music for a number of popular television shows and composed over 700 commercials. His most famous tr ...

(1928–2007), American composer * Bill Schaefer (field hockey) (1925-2003), New Zealand field hockey player *

Kermit Schaefer Kermit Schafer (March 24, 1914 – March 8, 1979) was an American writer and producer for radio and television in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his collections of "bloopers"—the word Schafer popularized for mistakes and gaffes o ...

(1923–1979), American writer, broadcast and ''Pardon My Blooper'' record series producer * Daniel Schaefer (1936–2006), American politician * James Schaefer (1938-2018), American politician and rancher *

Bob Schaefer Robert Walden Schaefer (born May 22, 1944) is an American baseball executive. He is currently the special assistant to the general manager with the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB), and is a former interim manager, bench coach ...

(born 1944), American professional baseball coach * Henry F. Schaefer, III (born 1944), American computational and theoretical chemist, academic and Protestant educator * Gerard John Schaefer (1946–1995), American killer, rapist, and suspected serial killer * Ronald P. Schaefer (1949- ), American academic linguist and university professor. ;Born after 1950 *

Vic Schaefer Victor Ernest Schaefer (born March 2, 1961) is an American college basketball coach who is the head women's basketball coach of the University of Texas at Austin (Texas) Longhorns. He previously served as the head coach for Mississippi State, fr ...

(born 1961), American basketball coach * Peter Schaefer (ice hockey) (born 1977), Canadian professional ice hockey player * Jarrett Schaefer (born 1979), America film director and screenwriter * Nolan Schaefer (born 1980), Canadian professional ice hockey player * Bradley E. Schaefer (living), American physics academic * Kurt Schaefer (living), American academic * Peter Schaefer (author) (living), American academic and religious history author * Laura Schaefer (disambiguation), multiple people

Schaeffer

Schäfer

;Born after 1800 * Wilhelm Schäfer (1868–1952), German Naturalist writer and magazine publisher * Dirk Schäfer (1873–1931), Dutch pianist and composer * Karl Emil Schäfer (1891–1917), German World War I pilot, recipient of the ''Pour le Mérite'' ;Born after 1900 * Emanuel Schäfer (1900–1974), officer in the German SS, head of Serbian security police during World War II * Gustav Schäfer (rower) (1906–1991), German Olympic rower * Karl Schäfer (1909–1976), Austrian Olympic figure skater *

Ernst Schäfer Ernst Schäfer (14 March 1910 – 21 July 1992) was a German explorer, hunter and zoologist in the 1930s, specializing in ornithology. His zoological explorations in Tibet served as a cover for his role in the German secret service. He was also ...

(1910–1992), German hunter, zoologist and ornithologist * Willy Schäfer (handball player) (1913–1980), Swiss Olympic field handball player *

Paul Schäfer Paul Schäfer Schneider (4 December 1921 – 24 April 2010) was a Nazi, child rapist, German-Chilean Christian minister and the founder and leader of a sect and agricultural commune of 300 German immigrants called Colonia Dignidad (''Dignity ...

(1921–2010), German-Chilean cult leader *

Hans Schäfer Hans Schäfer (19 October 1927 – 7 November 2017) was a German footballer who played as an outside left. Career Schäfer was born in Zollstock, Cologne. He played for 1. FC Köln between 1948 and 1965, and for the West Germany national team, e ...

(born 1927), German retired footballer *

Karl Heinz Schäfer Karl Heinz Schäfer (17 March 1932 – 12 October 1996) was a German-born composer and arranger who worked mainly in France. Life and career Born in Frankfurt to Jewish parents, he moved with his mother during World War II to the United States ...

(1932–1996), German-born composer and arranger working in France * Willy Schäfer (born 1933), German actor *

Hans-Bernd Schäfer Hans-Bernd Schäfer (born 25 May 1943 in Münster, Germany) is a German economist and a pioneer in the field of law and economics in Germany and Europe. Schäfer is professor emeritus at the University of Hamburg and former director of the Insti ...

(born 1943), German economist and scholar * Manfred Schäfer (born 1943), German-Australian retired professional footballer * Wolfgang Schäfer (born 1945), German choral conductor and academic ;Born after 1950 *

Winfried Schäfer Winfried "Winnie" Schäfer (born 10 January 1950) is a German football manager and former player who last managed of Qatari club Al-Khor. Playing career Winfried Schäfer played 403 Bundesliga matches and scored 46 goals in the (West) German to ...

(born 1950), German football manager * Anita Schäfer (born 1951), German politician *

Axel Schäfer Axel Helmut Schäfer (born 3 August 1952) is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Born in Frankfurt, Hesse, he has been serving as a member of the Bundestag from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2002. Political ca ...

(born 1952), German politician * Klaus Schäfer SAC (born 1958), German catholic Theologian, Priest and Author * Michael Schäfer (born 1959), Danish football manager * Markus Schäfer (born 1961), German tenor * Thomas Schäfer (1966−2020) German lawyer and politician, Minister of Finance in Hesse *

Bärbel Schäfer Bärbel Schäfer (born 16 December 1963 in Bremen) is a German television presenter and talk show host. Life Schäfer works in Germany as television presenter and talk show host. In 2004 Schäfer married Michel Friedman in Eschborn, only short ...

(born 1963), German television presenter *

Christine Schäfer Christine Schäfer (born 3 March 1965) is a German operatic soprano. Biography Schäfer was born in Frankfurt. She studied from 1984 until 1991 at the Hochschule der Künste Berlin, where her teachers were Ingrid Figur, Aribert Reimann and ...

(born 1965), German soprano * Jan Schäfer (born 1974), German Olympic canoer * Raphael Schäfer (born 1979), German footballer *

Marcel Schäfer Marcel Schäfer (born 7 June 1984) is a retired German professional footballer. He is currently the Sporting Director for VfL Wolfsburg. Career 1860 Munich Schäfer made his debut in the Bundesliga on matchday 11, 1 November 2003, as TSV 1 ...

(born 1984), German footballer * András Schäfer (born 1999), Hungarian footballer

Schäffer

;Born after 1800 *Saint Anna Schäffer (1882–1925), German mystic, canonized by Pope Benedict in 2012 * Charles Schäffer (1838–1903), American physician and botanist *

Fritz Schäffer Fritz Schäffer (12 May 1888 – 29 March 1967) was a German politician of the Bavarian People's Party (BVP) and the Christian Social Union (CSU). He was the Bavarian Minister of Finance from 1931 to 1933, when the Nazis came to power in Berlin ...

(1888–1967), German politician *

Julius Schäffer Julius Schäffer (3 June 1882 – 21 October 1944) was a German mycologist. His contributions include studies on the Agaricales The fungal order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms (for their distinctive gills) or euagarics, contains some ...

(1882–1944), German mycologist * Mary T. S. Schäffer (1861–1939), American naturalist, illustrator, and explorer in Canada ;Born after 1950 * Andreas Schäffer (born 1984), German footballer

Schafer

;Born after 1800 *

Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer FRS FRSE FRCP LLD (2 June 1850 – 29 March 1935) was an English physiologist. He is regarded as a founder of endocrinology: in 1894 he discovered and demonstrated the existence of adrenaline together with G ...

(1850–1935), formerly Edward Albert Schäfer, English physiologist ;Born after 1900 *

Natalie Schafer Natalie Schafer (November 5, 1900 – April 10, 1991) was an American actress, known for her role as Lovey Howell on the sitcom ''Gilligan's Island'' (1964–1967). Early life and career Natalie Schafer was born on November 5, 1900, in Manhatta ...

(1900–1991), American actress * Harold Schafer (1912–2001), American entrepreneur * Alice Turner Schafer (1915–2009), American mathematician *

Richard D. Schafer Richard Donald Schafer (February 25, 1918 – December 28, 2014) was an American mathematician. Richard Schafer studied at the University at Buffalo, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1938 and his master's degree in 1940. He received in ...

(1918–2014), American mathematician * Roy Schafer (1922–2018), American psychologist-psychoanalyst *

R. Murray Schafer Raymond Murray Schafer (18 July 1933 – 14 August 2021) was a Canadian composer, writer, music educator, and environmentalist perhaps best known for his World Soundscape Project, concern for acoustic ecology, and his book ''The Tuning of th ...

(born 1933), Canadian composer, writer, music educator and environmentalist * Ronald W. Schafer (born 1938), American electrical engineer and academic *

Ed Schafer Edward Thomas Schafer (born August 8, 1946) is an American businessman and politician who was the 30th governor of North Dakota from 1992 to 2000. Schafer also served as the 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2008 to 2009, appoint ...

(born 1946), American state politician and United States Secretary of Agriculture * William J. Schafer (born 1948), Actor in film and on Stage ;Born after 1950 *

Avi Schafer is a Japanese professional basketball player for SeaHorses Mikawa of the B.League. He played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Schafer has been a member of the Japan national basketball team. Early life Schafer was bor ...

(born 1998), Japanese professional basketball player *

Tim Schafer Timothy John Schafer (born July 26, 1967) is an American video game designer. He founded Double Fine Productions in July 2000, after having spent over a decade at LucasArts. Schafer is best known as the designer of critically acclaimed games '' ...

(born 1967), American computer game designer * Arthur Schafer (living), Canadian ethicist and academic *

Eric Schafer Eric John Schafer (born September 20, 1977) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 1997 until 2016, he competed for the UFC. Background Schafer attended the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. Schafer is a black belt i ...

(born 1977), American mixed martial artist * Jordan Schafer (born 1986), American baseball player *

Hunter Schafer Hunter Schafer (born December 31, 1998) is an American model, actress, and LGBTQ rights activist. For her activism against the HB2, '' Teen Vogue'' listed Schafer on its "21 Under 21" list in 2017. She made her acting debut as transgender high s ...

(born 1999), American model, activist, and actress * Sakura Schafer-Nameki, German physicist

Schaffer

;Born after 1800 * Károly Schaffer (1864–1939), Hungarian anatomist and neurologist * Alfréd Schaffer (1893–1945), Hungarian footballer ;Born after 1900 * Jimmie Schaffer (born 1936), American professional baseball player * Janne Schaffer (born 1945), Swedish songwriter and guitarist ;Born after 1950 *

Simon Schaffer Simon J. Schaffer (born 1 January 1955) is a professor of the history and philosophy of science at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and was editor of ''The British Journal for the History of Sc ...

(born 1955), English academic *

Frank Schaffer Frank Schaffer (born 23 October 1958 in Stalinstadt (today Eisenhüttenstadt), Bezirk Frankfurt) is an East German retired athlete who specialised in the 400 metres. He won the bronze medal in the 400 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics ...

(born 1958), retired East German Olympic athlete *

Bob Schaffer Robert Warren Schaffer (born July 24, 1962) is a Republican former member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Colorado in the 105th Congress and the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003). Sc ...

(born 1962), American state politician *

Jon Schaffer Jon Ryan Schaffer (born March 15, 1968) is an American heavy metal musician. He is the rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter of the Indiana-based heavy metal band Iced Earth, which he formed in 1985 under the name Purgatory. He is also the ...

(born 1968), American guitarist and songwriter * Daniel Schaffer (born 1969), British graphic novelist *

Akiva Schaffer Akiva D. Schaffer (; born December 1, 1977) is an American film director, comedian, actor, and writer. He is a member of the comedy group The Lonely Island along with Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone. He began his career with The Lonely Island maki ...

(born 1977), American comedy writer and songwriter * Denny Schaffer (living), American radio personality *

Gail Schaffer Gail S. Shaffer (born August 1, 1948) is an American politician and activist who served as the 59th Secretary of State of New York under Mario Cuomo. Shaffer grew up on a family farm in Blenheim, New York. She graduated from Gilboa-Conesville C ...

(living), American state politician * Ken Schaffer (living), American inventor * Lewis Schaffer (born 1957), American comedian *

Jonathan Schaffer Jonathan Schaffer is an American philosopher specializing in metaphysics and also working in epistemology, mind, and language. He is best known for his work on grounding and his development of monism, and is also a notable proponent of contra ...

(living), American-Australian philosopher

Shafer

;Born after 1800 * Jacob K. Shafer (1823–1876), American national politician *

Orator Shafer George W. Shafer ometimes spelled ''Shaffer'' or ''Schaefer''(October 4, 1851 – January 21, 1922) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Orator", because he was an avid speaker, Shafer played for 10 teams in four different majo ...

(1851–1922), American professional baseball player * John Adolph Shafer (1863–1918), American botanist * Taylor Shafer (1866–1945), American professional baseball player * George F. Shafer (1888–1948), American state politician *

Tillie Shafer Arthur Joseph "Tillie" Shafer (March 22, 1889 – January 10, 1962) was a Major League Baseball infielder with the New York Giants from 1909 to 1913. Career While attending Santa Clara University, Shafer was one of the most accomplished colle ...

(1889–1962), American professional baseball player *

Phil Shafer Phil "Red" Shafer (November 13, 1891 Des Moines, Iowa – January 29, 1971 Des Moines, Iowa) was an American racecar driver. He made 30 AAA Championship Car American open-wheel car racing, also known as Indy car racing, is a category o ...

(1891–1971), American racecar driver *

Paul W. Shafer Paul Werntz Shafer (April 27, 1893 – August 17, 1954) was a politician and judge from Michigan. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1937 until his death. Biography Shafer was born in Elkhart, Indiana on Apr ...

(1893–1954), American national politician ;Born after 1900 * Raymond P. Shafer (1917–2006), American state politician *

Whitey Shafer Sanger D. Shafer (October 24, 1934 – January 12, 2019),
- at Ruth Shafer Ruth Shafer (12 March 1912 19 May 1972), was the chair of the first international conference of women engineers and scientists. Early life and education Ruth I Shafer was born in Brooklyn on 12 March 1912. In 1934 she got her undergraduate degre ...

(1912 – 1972), American engineer ;Born after 1950 *

Ross Shafer Ross Alan Shafer (born December 10, 1954) is an American comedian, network television host, and motivational and leadership speaker/consultant. He has authored nine business books, won a stand-up comedy competition, and earned six Emmys as a ne ...

(born 1954), American comedian and motivational speaker * Robert R. Shafer (born 1958), American actor *

Dirk Shafer Dirk Alan Shafer (November 7, 1962 – March 5, 2015) was an American model, actor, screenwriter and director. Born in Carbondale, Illinois, he was most noted in the modeling world for having been ''Playgirl'' magazine's 1992 "Man of the Year". ...

(born 1962), American model, actor, screenwriter and director *

Scott Shafer Scott Shafer (born January 6, 1967) is an American football coach and former player. He currently serves as the defensive coordinator for the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. He previously served as the head coach at Syracuse University u ...

(born 1967), American college football coach * David Shafer (politician) (born 1965), American state politician * Glenn Shafer (living), American mathematician, co-developer of Dempster-Shafer theory *

Jack Shafer Jack Shafer (born November 14, 1957) is an American journalist who writes about media for ''Politico''. Prior to joining ''Politico'', he worked for Reuters and also edited and wrote the column'' "''Press Box" for ''Slate'', an online magazine. B ...

(living), American journalist and columnist * Jeremy Shafer (living), American entertainer and oragamist * Justin Shafer (born 1992), American baseball player

Shaffer

;Born after 1800 * Shaffer (baseball), baseball player * John Shaffer (politician) (1827–1870), American territorial governor * Joseph Crockett Shaffer (1880–1958), American national politician * Harry G. Shaffer (politician) (1885–1971), American state politician ;Born after 1900 *

Anthony Shaffer (writer) Anthony Joshua Shaffer (15 May 19266 November 2001) was an English playwright, screenwriter, novelist, barrister, and advertising executive. Early life Shaffer was born to a Jewish family in Liverpool, the son of Reka (née Fredman) and Jack ...

(1926–2001), English playwright, novelist, and screenwriter * David Shaffer (born 1936), American physician *

Earl Shaffer Earl V. Shaffer (November 8, 1918 – May 5, 2002), was an American outdoorsman and author known from 1948 as The Crazy One (and eventually as The Original Crazy One) for attempting what became the first publicized claimed hiking trip in a singl ...

(1918–2002), American outdoorsman and author * Elaine Shaffer (1925–1973), American flutist * Harry G. Shaffer (1919-2009), Austrian-American economics academic * Jack Shaffer (1909–1963), American professional basketball player *

James Shaffer James Christian Shaffer (born June 6, 1970), also known by his stage name "Munky", is an American musician best known as co-founder and guitarist of the nu metal band Korn. He has cited Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, and Randy Rhoads as some of hi ...

(1910–2014), American religious leader * Jay C. Shaffer (born 1936-) entomologist, curator of lepidoptera at the Natural History Museum, London * Jim G. Shaffer (born 1944), American archeology and anthropology academic * John H. Shaffer (1919–1997), American government administrator * Juliet Popper Shaffer (born 1932), American psychologist and statistician *

Lee Shaffer Lee Philip Shaffer II (born February 23, 1939) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'7" forward born in Chicago, Shaffer starred at the University of North Carolina, where he was the ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year ...

(born 1939), American professional basketball player * Leland Shaffer (1912–1993), American professional football player * Louise Shaffer (born 1942), American actress, script writer, and author *

Tim Shaffer Charles Timothy Shaffer (October 2, 1945 – May 3, 2022) was an American judge and politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 21st district from 1981 to 1996. Shaffer served as a l ...

(1945-2011), American politician * Mary Shaffer (born 1947), American artist *

Paul Shaffer Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949) is a Canadian singer, composer, actor, author, comedian, and multi-instrumentalist who served as David Letterman's musical director, band leader, and sidekick on the entire run of both ''Late Ni ...

(born 1949), Canadian-American musician, actor, author, comedian and composer * Sir

Peter Shaffer Sir Peter Levin Shaffer (; 15 May 1926 – 6 June 2016) was an English playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. He wrote numerous award-winning plays, of which several were adapted into films. Early life Shaffer was born to a Jewish family in L ...

(1926–2016), English dramatist and playwright * Robert H. Shaffer (1915–2017), American educator ;Born after 1950 *

Anthony Shaffer (intelligence officer) Anthony Shaffer (born 1962) is a former U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who became known for his claims about mishandled intelligence before the September 11 attacks, and for the censoring of his ghost written book ''Operation Dark Heart.'' ...

(born 1962), American Reserve Army Lieutenant Colonel and CIA intelligence officer *

Erica Shaffer Erica Shaffer is an American actress who has worked in independent films and television. Some of the films include '' A Family Affair'', ''The Truth is Always Complicated'', '' The Fall'', ''Catalina Trust'', ''The Socratic Method'', ''Three ...

(born 1970), American actress *

(born 1970), American guitarist*

Matthew Shaffer Matthew Joseph Shaffer (born May 4, 1978) is an American musical theatre, television, and film actor, director, executive producer, author, and choreographer. He was born in Florence, Colorado, USA. Career Shaffer began his career in Southern C ...

(born 1978), American musical theatre, television, and film actor * Brian Shaffer (born 1979), missing American medical student *

Kevin Shaffer Kevin Carl Shaffer (born March 2, 1980) is a former American football offensive tackle. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tulsa. Shaffer also played for the Cleveland B ...

(born 1980), American professional football player *

Atticus Shaffer Atticus Ronald Shaffer (born June 19, 1998) is an American actor known for playing Brick Heck on the ABC sitcom '' The Middle'' (2009–2018), as well as for voicing Edgar in the film '' Frankenweenie'' (2012) and Ono on the Disney Junior seri ...

(born 1998), American actor * Justin Shaffer (born 1998), American football player * Brenda Shaffer (living), American political science author *

Chris Shaffer Chris Shaffer is a singer/songwriter from Indiana who is best known as the frontman of The Why Store and their biggest single, "Lack of Water." Shaffer performed with The Why Store until it split in 2000 and was among the members who reunited in ...

(living), American singer-songwriter * Deborah Shaffer (living), American filmmaker

References

{{Surname, Schaefer Occupational surnames German-language surnames Jewish surnames