Surname Scherfenberg - Meaning and Origin
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Scherfenberg: What does the surname Scherfenberg mean?
The last name Scherfenberg is a German surname, derived from the place of origin of the family that carried it. The name is attributed to those who originated from the town of Schwerin, an old capital of the Bishopric of Schwerin in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
The name is believed to have been a personal name that was changed to a place name during the Middle Ages. It then became a surname, as people took on the name of the place where they came from as their family name. In the case of the Scherfenberg family, this would have been Schwerin.
It may also be related to the word "schwer" which means "heavy" or "difficult" in German. This could hint at a family or individual who was of strong character or who was given an admirable characteristic of strength.
The present day Scherfenberg family members can claim a long and proud history dating back to the 14th Century in Germany. Although scattered far and wide, the family has retained its unique identity, an identity founded on a commitment to hard work and a connection to its ancestral home. This connection is still very strong and intact within the Scherfenberg family, and it is this sense of identity that brings them together.
Order DNA origin analysisScherfenberg: Where does the name Scherfenberg come from?
The last name Scherfenberg is most commonly found in Germany, Eastern Europe and North America. It is thought to have originated in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the 13th century.
Currently, the name is most heavily concentrated in Germany, especially in the north and east. The German states with the highest numbers of Scherfenbergs are Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, and Hamburg. The name is fairly rare in southern Germany, as it is found there in fewer than 1% of the population.
The German diaspora spreading across the world has made the Scherfenberg name quite common outside of Germany. The most significant concentration can be found in the United States and Canada in the many waves of German immigrants who settled there in the 19th and 20th centuries. It can also be found in Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, and Thailand to name a few.
More recently, it has become quite common among the German diaspora in Australia, New Zealand, and the surrounding South Pacific islands.
All in all, it can generally be said that the last name Scherfenberg is found most prevalently in Germany, the United States, Russia, and the countries of the German diaspora across the world.
Variations of the surname Scherfenberg
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Scherfenberg include Scharfenberg, Scherff, Scherffenberg, Schrothfenduer, Schurffenberg, Scherffer, Scharffenberger, Scharf, Scharffenberg, Scharfenberger, and Scharfenberg.
Scharfenberg is the most common variation of the surname, which is believed to be of German, Dutch, and Austrian origin. It is believed to be derived from an old German word, meaning “shield fountain” or “strong fountain.”
The earliest recorded spelling of the surname dates back to the 14th century in Austria and Germany. It had already become the most popular variation of the surname in Central European countries by the late 16th century. By the 18th century, the surname had spread throughout Europe and the Americas due to immigration.
Variations of the surname such as Schurffenberg, Scherffer, Scharffenberger, and Scharfenberg are also common, as well as many other regionalized spellings. Most of the variations of the surname are likely related to regional pronunciation or dialect.
It should also be noted that the surname Scherfenberg, and many of its related surnames, can also be found in Jewish contexts. The name could have been adopted by Jewish families who were originally from Central Europe. This is evidenced by records from the United States, where many Jewish families used variation of this surname during the 19th century.
Famous people with the name Scherfenberg
- Kiefer Sutherland: Award-winning actor, director, and producer from Canada
- Hans Georg Scharfenberg: Former President of the German Olympic Sports (DOSB), from 1998 to 2010
- Jennifer Scherfenberg: American Photographer
- Ulla Scherle: German actress
- Kai Enno Scherfenberg: former German professional tennis player
- Martin Scherfenberg: a German violinist
- Peter Scherfenberg: a World War II-era German Naval Officer and recipient of the Knight's Cross
- Doc Preuss Scherfenberg: 19th-century German-American homeopathic doctor
- Eike Scherfenberg: German contemporary artist
- Alexander Scharfenberg: German Jurist and President of the European Court of Human Rights
- Wolf D. Scharfenberg: diplomat and United Nations Ambassador from Germany
- Paul E. Scheffenberg: 20th-century American compositor
- Johann Christian Scharfenberg: 18th-century German sculptor, architect, and poet
- Monika Scharfenberg: international jurist from Germany
- Gustav Adolph Scharfenberg: 19th-century German theologian and philosopher
- Marcus Scharfenberg: German children's theater director
- Ulrike Scharfenberg: German organist and conductor.