Surname Scher - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Scher: What does the surname Scher mean?
Scher is a surname with roots in both German and Yiddish cultures. In German, it is derived from the Middle High German term "schære," which means "scissors," indicating that the initial bearers of this surname likely worked as a tailor or a barber - someone who cuts. It's also possible that the name could have denoted people who lived near a notable rock that was split or "cut," as "schære" could also refer to a rift or cleft.
In Yiddish, "sher" means "share", so it's conceivable that it's an occupational name for a municipal official responsible for apportioning communal levies. It's also been suggested that it might be an Ashkenazic ornamental name from the same word used in the sense of a unit of weight or money.
It is important to understand that surnames can evolve over time and have multiple origins, making it difficult to capture every possible meaning in a name like Scher. However, this gives you an idea of some of the principal interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisScher: Where does the name Scher come from?
The surname Scher is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "schære", meaning "shears" or "scissors". This suggests that the initial bearer of this name was likely a shearer of cloth or sheep, or perhaps a barber who also functioned as a surgeon in the Middle Ages. Alternatively, the name may have been occupational for a juggler or acrobat, from the Yiddish word "sher", meaning "scissors", referring metaphorically to the quick, darting movements characteristic of these performers. While it is common in Germany, it has also found prevalence in countries like the United States and Canada, due to German immigration. Like many surnames, the precise geographic distribution of the name has changed over time and spread out due to the movement of people, changing national borders, and other historical factors. It is also found among Ashkenazi Jewish communities, due to the adoption of German surnames in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname Scher
The surname Scher might have different variants and spellings due to its Old German origin and Jewish (Ashkenazic) roots. Variations include: Scherer, Scheer, Schaer, Schier, Scherer, Sherr, and Sheer. It might also appear as Schearer, Sharer, or Scharer due to pronunciation differences across regions.
In some cases, it may have evolved or been anglicized into forms like Shearer, Sharer or Sherer. Jewish families with this name sometimes spelled it as Szeryer or Szerer, following Yiddish or Polish transcription.
These surnames are derived from Middle High German "schære," which means "shears" or "scissors," referring to a profession as a shearman or cutter. Thus, families with these names likely had ancestors who were tailors, barbers or shearers.
Remember that due to dispersion and migration, family names can have multiple roots and might have been changed significantly over centuries, so this is not a definitive or exhaustive list of variants for the surname Scher. To discover a family's specific history, genealogical research using a range of spelling possibilities is often necessary.
Famous people with the name Scher
- Adam Scher: A renowned American professor of anthropology and the curator at the American Museum of Natural History.
- Jared Scher: A well-known American tennis player.
- Ben Scher: An actor known for his role in the TV series "The Office".
- Nancy Scher: A celebrated American actress known for her roles in various Hollywood movies.
- Rob Scher: An accomplished musician and songwriter.
- Rachel Scher: A famous American ballet dancer.
- Michael Scher: A celebrated American journalist and author.
- Steven Scher: A respected American radio journalist and host.
- Peter Scher: A significant figure in American politics who served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor.
- Sara Scher: An acclaimed American theater director.