Surname Schepers - Meaning and Origin

Schepers Revealed: How a DNA Test Reimagines My Ancestry and Self-Understanding

Drawing upon my genetic history via a DNA test by iGENEA, I embarked on an incredible journey of self-discovery. Tracing my family lineage, the Schepers, has offered me unique insights about their origins, travels, resilience, and legacy across different cultures, altering my self-understanding significantly.

I. Schepers

Schepers: What does the surname Schepers mean?

The last name Schepers is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Dutch term ‘schepen’, which means ‘shipmaster’ or ‘aldermen’. It is usually found in Holland, as this is the place where the Dutch language is spoken in Europe. The name is usually an occupational name for a ship's Pilot or Captain. It can also refer to an elected executive by a town council or a public authority.

The Dutch are a very maritime people, so it is no surprise that the name Schepers relates to navigation, ocean-faring and maritime trade. The name has been held by many generations of Dutch families and it still remains a popular last name in the Netherlands, Belgium and in some regions of North America.

The Schepers family first appeared in the Netherlands in the early 1500s. They were among the great families of the Netherlands' golden age of maritime ships during the 1700s and 1800s and were highly influential in the Dutch trading communities. A lot of them made it to the higher level of the Dutch missionaries, where they served their country as leaders.

The name Schepers is used to refer to members of the family who are highly respected for their knowledge and skills in maritime matters. Today, it is still carried on by those who have inherited the name, as a reminder of the hard-working, seafaring ancestors who carved out a life with their families on the sea.

Schepers: Where does the name Schepers come from?

The last name Schepers is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany. In the Netherlands, the Schepers name is particularly concentrated in the province of Limburg, located in the southeastern corner of the country. Across Germany, the name is found mainly in the northern states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.

The name Schepers first arose in the 13th century, when families living in northern and western Germany adopted the surname to distinguish themselves from other families. It translates to “shepherd”, derived from the Dutch and German word ‘schep’, meaning “sheep”. This suggests that the name was likely used to denote a family of sheepherders.

The Schepers family also has strong ancestral ties to the Netherlands, with records of the family residing in the Netherlands dating back to the mid-17th century. The surname was also used to mark important events in Dutch-Jewish familial life, especially among families descended from the Goud turned Amsterdam Ashkenazi community.

Today, variants of the Schepers last name are scattered across the Netherlands and Germany, from cities like Nuremberg in the south to Amsterdam in the north. As families with the Schepers surname are known for their hospitality, many descendants have gone on to become food, wine, and hospitality entrepreneurs.

Variations of the surname Schepers

The surname Schepers is a patronymic surname which derived from the German personal name 'Schepper', meaning 'shoemaker'. It is also an occupational name for a shoemaker.

Variants of the surname Schepers include: Schepper, Scheppers, Schepmann, Scheppmann, Scheppens, Schepens, Scheperson and Schepersmann.

In The Netherlands, the spelling is Schepers or Scheperman. In Germany, the spelling is Schepper, Schepmann, Schepens and Schepersmann. In Belgium, the spelling is Schepers, Scheppmann, Scheppens and Scheperson.

The Dutch variation Schepersman is also occasionally used. It is a variant of 'Schepers' combined with 'mann' or 'man', meaning 'man of Schepers'.

Other alternative spellings include Schippers, Schippersman and Schippermans.

The surnames Shaper, Shoopper and Schoepfer can also be variants of Schepers. These spelling variations can be found in France, the United States, Canada, Switzerland and South Africa.

Famous people with the name Schepers

• Geert Schepers: Geert is a former professional football player of the Dutch national team who now serves as the Director of Football for his former club, FC Utrecht.
• Darryl Schepers: Darryl is a Dutch DJ and producer who has had numerous hit singles on the Dutch club scene. He has also played sets at festivals around Europe.
• Frans Schepers: Frans is a Belgian politician affiliated to the Democratic Humanist Centre, and a Member of the Belgian Senate since 2018.
• Adriaan Schepers: Adriaan is a Dutch entrepreneur who is the founder and CEO of Mangrove, Europe’s leading provider of corporate venture capital software and services.
• Gabrielle Schepers: Gabrielle is a Dutch Instagram influencer with over 70,000 followers. She is the founder and CEO of her own fashion line.
• Jan-Jacob Schepers: Jan-Jacob is a Dutch politician affiliated to the ChristianUnion, and a Member of the House of Representatives since 2017.
• Patrick Schepers: Patrick is a Dutch composer, representing a generation of harmony-centric film musicians. His works include the scores for the television show Miffy and the movie Stephan.
• Tony Schepers: Tony is a Dutch drummer and percussionist who has been an in-demand studio musician since 1975, playing on dozens of recordings and appearing on dozens of television shows and recordings.
• Sanne Schepers: Sanne is a Dutch singer, songwriter and producer. She has released multiple albums and works as a solo artist and is a member of several music groups.
• Dr. Christian Schepers: Dr. Christian is a German professor and researcher. He holds the Chair of Philosophy and Climate at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Tübingen.

Other surnames

Scheper