Schaefer is an alternative spelling and

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words in different languages that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical e ...

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 (1819–1883), German historian * Germany Schaefer (1877–1919), American professional baseball player * Jacob Schaefer Sr (1850–1910), American professional billiards player * Jacob Schaefer Jr (1894–1975) American professional billiards player *

Jacob Schaefer (composer) Jacob Schaefer ( yi, יעקב שײפער, 1888–1936) was a Russian-born Jewish American composer, political activist and choir director whose career ran from the 1910s to the 1930s. A committed Communist for the last two decades of his life, he ...

(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 (1904-1986), American jurist and educator * Vincent Schaefer (1906–1993), American chemist and meteorologist who developed cloud seeding * Jack Warner Schaefer (1907–1991), American fiction author * Milner Baily Schaefer (1912–1970), American fisheries biologist * William Donald Schaefer (1921–2011), American politician * Udo Schaefer (born 1926), German Bahá'í author * Will Schaefer (1928–2007), American composer *

Bill Schaefer (field hockey) William Paul Schaefer (9 October 1925 – 20 July 2003) was a New Zealand field hockey player. He represented New Zealand in field hockey between 1956 and 1964, including at the 1956, 1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because o ...

(1925-2003), New Zealand field hockey player * Kermit Schaefer (1923–1979), American writer, broadcast and ''Pardon My Blooper'' record series producer *

Daniel Schaefer Daniel "Dan" Schaefer (January 25, 1936 – April 16, 2006) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 6th congressional district from 1983 to 1999. Early life and education Born in Guttenberg, Iowa, he a ...

(1936–2006), American politician *

James Schaefer James George Schaefer (August 30, 1938 – May 29, 2018) was an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives. Schaefer was first elected to the state House from District 21 in 2010. Redistricting ...

(1938-2018), American politician and rancher * Bob Schaefer (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 Ronald P. Schaefer (born June 17, 1949), also known as Ron Schaefer is an American academic, English professor, and linguist. He is the first person "to devise a written version of a language called Emai", a language reported in 1997 to be spoke ...

(1949- ), American academic linguist and university professor. ;Born after 1950 * Vic Schaefer (born 1961), American basketball coach * Peter Schaefer (ice hockey) (born 1977), Canadian professional ice hockey player *

Jarrett Schaefer Jarrett Schaefer (born 1979) is an American film director and screenwriter. His feature debut, ''Chapter 27'' (2007), premiered and received substantial media and critical attention at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Biography Born on a U.S. Air ...

(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) Peter Schaefer may refer to: * Peter Schaefer (ice hockey) (born 1977), Canadian retired professional ice hockey player * Peter Schaefer (author) (born 1943), German scholar of ancient religious studies and director of the Jewish Museum of Berlin ...

(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 Emanuel Schäfer (20 April 1900 – 4 December 1974) was a high-ranking SS functionary (SS-''Oberführer'') and a protégé of Reinhard Heydrich in Nazi Germany. Born in 1900, Schäfer served in World War I. Post-war, he participated in far ...

(1900–1974), officer in the German SS, head of Serbian security police during World War II *

Gustav Schäfer (rower) Gustav Schäfer (22 September 1906 – 10 December 1991) was a German rower who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was born in Johanngeorgenstadt. In 1911, his family moved to Dresden. Schäfer's sporting career started in swimming. ...

(1906–1991), German Olympic rower * Karl Schäfer (1909–1976), Austrian Olympic figure skater * Ernst Schäfer (1910–1992), German hunter, zoologist and ornithologist *

Willy Schäfer (handball player) Willy Schäfer may refer to: * Willy Schäfer (actor) (1933–2011), German television actor *Willy Schäfer (handballer) Willy Schäfer (30 April 1913 – 16 October 1980) was a Swiss field handball player who competed in the 1936 Summe ...

(1913–1980), Swiss Olympic field handball player * Paul Schäfer (1921–2010), German-Chilean cult leader * Hans Schäfer (born 1927), German retired footballer * Karl Heinz Schäfer (1932–1996), German-born composer and arranger working in France * Willy Schäfer (born 1933), German actor * Hans-Bernd Schäfer (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 (born 1950), German football manager *

Anita Schäfer Anita Schäfer (born 9 July 1951) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who served as a member of the Bundestag from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1998 until 2021. She represented the constituency of Pirmasens. ...

(born 1951), German politician * Axel Schäfer (born 1952), German politician * Klaus Schäfer SAC (born 1958), German catholic Theologian, Priest and Author *

Michael Schäfer Michael Schäfer (born 25 January 1959) is a Danish former football player and now manager. In his active career as a midfielder, he played 482 games for Danish club Lyngby BK, as well as three games for the Denmark national football team. At ...

(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 (born 1963), German television presenter * Christine Schäfer (born 1965), German soprano *

Jan Schäfer Jan Schäfer (born 18 October 1974 in Dresden) is a German sprint canoer who competed from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal in the K-4 1000 m event at Sydney in 2000. Schäfer also won a br ...

(born 1974), German Olympic canoer * Raphael Schäfer (born 1979), German footballer * Marcel Schäfer (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 (1888–1967), German politician * Julius Schäffer (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 (1850–1935), formerly Edward Albert Schäfer, English physiologist ;Born after 1900 * Natalie Schafer (1900–1991), American actress * Harold Schafer (1912–2001), American entrepreneur * Alice Turner Schafer (1915–2009), American mathematician * Richard D. Schafer (1918–2014), American mathematician * Roy Schafer (1922–2018), American psychologist-psychoanalyst * R. Murray Schafer (born 1933), Canadian composer, writer, music educator and environmentalist * Ronald W. Schafer (born 1938), American electrical engineer and academic * Ed Schafer (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 (born 1998), Japanese professional basketball player * Tim Schafer (born 1967), American computer game designer *

Arthur Schafer Arthur Schafer is a Canadian ethicist specializing in bioethics, philosophy of law, social philosophy and political philosophy. He is Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, at the University of Manitoba. He is also a full prof ...

(living), Canadian ethicist and academic * Eric Schafer (born 1977), American mixed martial artist *

Jordan Schafer Jordan James Schafer (born September 4, 1986) is a former American professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins as a center fielder. Baseball career ...

(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 Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, HB2, ''Teen Vogue'' listed Schafer on its "21 Under 21" list in 2017. She ma ...

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

Schaffer

;Born after 1800 *

Károly Schaffer Károly Schaffer (September 7, 1864, Vienna – October 16, 1939, Budapest)In reply to an e-mail query as to the pronunciation of the "a" in "Schaffer" and as to which syllable in "Schaffer" should have the stronger accent, Gabor Gazdag, MD, repli ...

(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 Jan Erik Tage "Janne" Schaffer (born 24 September 1945) is a Swedish songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his work as a session guitarist for ABBA but he has also recorded with artists such as Bob Marley, Johnny Nash, Art Farmer and ...

(born 1945), Swedish songwriter and guitarist ;Born after 1950 * Simon Schaffer (born 1955), English academic * Frank Schaffer (born 1958), retired East German Olympic athlete * Bob Schaffer (born 1962), American state politician * Jon Schaffer (born 1968), American guitarist and songwriter *

Daniel Schaffer Dan Schaffer (born 3 February 1969) is a British writer/artist working primarily in comics and film. He is best known as the writer and illustrator of cult comic book series, ''Dogwitch''. He is also the co-creator/artist of ''Indigo Vertigo'', ...

(born 1969), British graphic novelist * Akiva Schaffer (born 1977), American comedy writer and songwriter * Denny Schaffer (living), American radio personality * Gail Schaffer (living), American state politician *

Ken Schaffer Ken Schaffer is an American inventor and former publicist. Inventor In 1975 Schaffer invented the Schaffer–Vega diversity system, a low-noise/wide dynamic range wireless guitar system that was form-factored as a wireless microphone in 1976. Scha ...

(living), American inventor * Lewis Schaffer (born 1957), American comedian * Jonathan Schaffer (living), American-Australian philosopher

Shafer

;Born after 1800 *

Jacob K. Shafer Jacob K. Shafer (December 26, 1823 – November 22, 1876) was a Delegate from Idaho Territory. Born near Broadway, Virginia, Shafer was graduated from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, in 1843. And from the law school of L.P. ...

(1823–1876), American national politician * Orator Shafer (1851–1922), American professional baseball player *

John Adolph Shafer John Adolph Shafer (February 23, 1863 – February 1, 1918) was an American botanist. Life Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shafer graduated from the Pittsburgh School, of Pharmacy in 1881 and worked as a pharmacist until after his marri ...

(1863–1918), American botanist * Taylor Shafer (1866–1945), American professional baseball player *

George F. Shafer George Frederick Shafer (November 23, 1888August 13, 1948) was an American politician who served as the 16th Governor of North Dakota, serving from 1929 to 1932. Biography Shafer was educated in Mandan's public school system and attended the Uni ...

(1888–1948), American state politician * Tillie Shafer (1889–1962), American professional baseball player * Phil Shafer (1891–1971), American racecar driver * Paul W. Shafer (1893–1954), American national politician ;Born after 1900 *

Raymond P. Shafer Raymond Philip Shafer (March 5, 1917 – December 12, 2006) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 39th governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. Prior to that, he served as the 23rd lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from ...

(1917–2006), American state politician * Whitey Shafer (1934–2019), American country songwriter and musician * Ruth Shafer (1912 – 1972), American engineer ;Born after 1950 * Ross Shafer (born 1954), American comedian and motivational speaker *

Robert R. Shafer Robert Ray Shafer (born April 10, 1958) is an American character actor who has appeared in film, television, commercials, voice-over and theater. Shafer, sometimes credited as Bobby Ray Shafer, is perhaps best known for playing Bob Vance, Vanc ...

(born 1958), American actor * Dirk Shafer (born 1962), American model, actor, screenwriter and director * Scott Shafer (born 1967), American college football coach * David Shafer (politician) (born 1965), American state politician *

Glenn Shafer Glenn Shafer (born November 21, 1946) is an American mathematician and statistician. He is the co-creator of Dempster–Shafer theory. He is a University Professor and Board of Governors Professor at Rutgers University. Early life and education S ...

(living), American mathematician, co-developer of Dempster-Shafer theory * Jack Shafer (living), American journalist and columnist * Jeremy Shafer (living), American entertainer and oragamist *

Justin Shafer Justin Healy Shafer (born September 18, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins. High school and college Shafer graduated fro ...

(born 1992), American baseball player

Shaffer

;Born after 1800 * Shaffer (baseball), baseball player * John Shaffer (politician) (1827–1870), American territorial governor *

Joseph Crockett Shaffer Joseph Crockett Shaffer (January 19, 1880October 19, 1958) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia. Biography Born near Wytheville, Virginia, Shaffer attended the Wytheville public schools. He was graduated from Plummer College in Wytheville ...

(1880–1958), American national politician *

Harry G. Shaffer (politician) Harry Gustavus Shaffer, Sr. was the Republican President of the West Virginia Senate from Boone County and served from 1923 to 1925. References West Virginia state senators Presidents of the West Virginia Senate 1885 births 1971 de ...

(1885–1971), American state politician ;Born after 1900 * Anthony Shaffer (writer) (1926–2001), English playwright, novelist, and screenwriter * David Shaffer (born 1936), American physician * Earl Shaffer (1918–2002), American outdoorsman and author *

Elaine Shaffer Elaine Shaffer (October 22, 1925 – February 19, 1973) was an American flutist and principal of the Houston Symphony Orchestra between 1948 and 1953. Biography Elaine Shaffer was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. She attended the Curtis Inst ...

(1925–1973), American flutist * Harry G. Shaffer (1919-2009), Austrian-American economics academic * Jack Shaffer (1909–1963), American professional basketball player * James Shaffer (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 John Hixon Shaffer (February 25, 1919 – September 14, 1997) was an administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from March 24, 1969 until March 14, 1973. Shaffer was the administrator during an en-masse calling-in sick strike by air tra ...

(1919–1997), American government administrator * Juliet Popper Shaffer (born 1932), American psychologist and statistician * Lee Shaffer (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 (1945-2011), American politician * Mary Shaffer (born 1947), American artist * Paul Shaffer (born 1949), Canadian-American musician, actor, author, comedian and composer * Sir Peter Shaffer (1926–2016), English dramatist and playwright * Robert H. Shaffer (1915–2017), American educator ;Born after 1950 * Anthony Shaffer (intelligence officer) (born 1962), American Reserve Army Lieutenant Colonel and CIA intelligence officer * Erica Shaffer (born 1970), American actress * James Shaffer (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 Brian Shaffer (born February 25, 1979) is an American medical student at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. On the night of March 31, 2006, Shaffer went out with friends to celebrate the beginning of spring break; later he was sepa ...

(born 1979), missing American medical student * Kevin Shaffer (born 1980), American professional football player * Atticus Shaffer (born 1998), American actor *

Justin Shaffer Justin Donnnell Shaffer (born June 20, 1998) is an American football guard for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia. Early life and high school Shaffer grew up in Ellenwood, Georgia and ...

(born 1998), American football player *

Brenda Shaffer Brenda Shaffer (born c. 1965) is an American scholar who holds positions as Fellow with the Atlantic Council and professor at University of Haifa (on sabbatical). Shaffer was the former research director of the Caspian Studies Program at Harvard Ke ...

(living), American political science author * Chris Shaffer (living), American singer-songwriter * Deborah Shaffer (living), American filmmaker

References

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