Schäfer Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Schäfer name began, what it means, and how Herald Lab researches a Schäfer coat of arms.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Schäfer coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Schäfer name
Schäfer is the German occupational name for a shepherd, from Middle High German schæfære. Shepherding was vital in every region, so the surname arose widely, especially in the south and west. American spellings often drop the umlaut as Schafer or Schaefer.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Schäfer name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Schäfer name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Switzerland and Austria; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Schäfer name FAQ
What does the Schäfer name mean?
Shepherd. Common variants include Schaefer, Schafer, Shepherd.
Where does the Schäfer surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Switzerland and Austria.
Is there a Schäfer coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Schäfer crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Schäfer coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).