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Scharf Surname Meaning & Origin

What the Scharf last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.

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Meaning and origin of the Scharf last name

Meaning of the Scharf last name: "sharp". Scharf is a German surname from Middle High German scharf, "sharp, keen", a nickname for a quick-witted or strict person. It could also mean a sharp-tongued man. The last name is spread across Germany. The spelling Scharff is common in northern Germany.

Arms associated with the Scharf name

In German towns craftsmen used coats of arms too, and heraldry associated with Scharf grew in that world.

Get your full Scharf family history

This is only a glimpse of the Scharf story. The full Scharf history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Scharf coat of arms. Get the full Scharf report.

Scharf name FAQ

What does the Scharf name mean?

"sharp". Common variants include Scharff, Scharfe.

Where does the Scharf surname come from?

It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Poland.

Is there a Scharf coat of arms?

Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Scharf coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.

Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).