Surname Shoaff - Meaning and Origin

Shoaff: What does the surname Shoaff mean?

The last name Shoaff has German, Swiss, and French origins. It is derived from the Middle High German word "schuph," meaning "hat" or "cap," and is first found in Central Germany during the 13th century. The Shoaff surname is thought to have possibly originated as an occupational name, given to hat makers or sellers.

The Shoaff surname is also associated with the influential Shoaff family of the United States, who hailed from Ohio. The family is believed to have been originaly from Switzerland, and its members were among some of the earliest settlers in Ohio. They played an integral role in the development and growth of this state.

In addition to the Shoaff family of the United States, there is also record of the Shoaff family in Canada and Australia.

Today, the Shoaff surname is still present in many places around the world. In an increasingly globalized world, the family name has spread far and wide, and is now present in many countries, especially in areas with significant German, Swiss, and French populations.

Shoaff: Where does the name Shoaff come from?

The last name Shoaff is uncommon. It does not appear in any of the major national databases, such as the U.S. Census Bureau. It does appear, however, in other smaller geographic databases, such as state and county records.

Shoaff appears to be particularly common in some areas of the Midwest, particularly in Indiana and Ohio where there is a high concentration of German and Dutch descent. The name is also seen in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Iowa. In the areas with greater concentrations of German and Dutch immigrants, the last name Shoaff is more common.

The last name Shoaff could have derived from the German words “schaufen” or “schoufen” which means “to sift” which stems from Old German, Middle High German and Upper German words. This suggests that the Shoaff family could have had an occupational origin as sifters since German was a prominent language in many areas.

Though the Shoaff name is not widespread, its history in German and Dutch areas of the Midwest is evidence of its past prevalence in the region and could serve as a window into American and European history.

Variations of the surname Shoaff

The Shoaff surname is primarily of German ancestry, though some variations of the spelling of the name could also be found in other areas like England, France, and Scotland. The most common variations of the spelling of the surname include: Schaaf, Schaaff, Schaff, Shaff, Schafff, Schaffs, and Schoff.

In German, the surname Shoaff is thought to be derived from the Ancient Germanic boundaries of the Schaaf, which translates to “sheep,” likely indicating that it was last name of an individual who worked in the sheep industry.

Other surnames with similar origins that can be found in the German-speaking countries have slight variations in spelling. These include Schaeffer, Schaefer, Schaoff, Schaffer, and Schoepf. In the United States and the United Kingdom, the Shoaff surname is sometimes seen as being derived from the Old French term for “shepherd,” or even the Latin word “scapha.”

Variations of the Shoaff surname can also be seen in other countries as well. For instance, in Finland, the special emphasis of the surname Shoaff is seen in the Schofin, Schofield, Schofill, and Schoff families. In Russia, the Shoaff surname is seen in the Schofalt and Schoffel spelling variations. In Spain, the Shoaff family has been traced to the Schofield, Schoffield, and Schoffel varieties.

It is also possible that the Shoaff surname could be seen in the Schefler, Schefind, Schiefer, and Schupfer variations in English-speaking countries. Additionally, it is possible that the Shoaff surname may have been seen in the Czech form of the name, known as Schof and Schoff, as well as in the Italian form of Shoof and Schoff.

Famous people with the name Shoaff

• John H. Shoaff: An American businessman, philanthropist, and former chairman and CEO of the now discontinued Washington Corporation.
• William J. Shoaff: An American electrical engineer, computer scientist, and academic administrator who served as president of Pennsylvania State University.
• Barry Shoaff: An American actor and comedian who had parts in The Facts of Life, Happy Days, and The Streets of San Francisco.
• Hafeez Shaafi: A Pakistani ghazal singer who was born as Hafeez Shoaff.
• Earl P. Shoaff: An American actor noted for his appearances in the soap opera The Edge of Night and in the 1977 Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Gin Game.
• Letty Shoaff: A fictional character of the AMC television series Breaking Bad.
• Samuel Shoaff (1894–1973): The Jewish mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 1954 to 1962.
• Barbara Shoaff: An American film, television, and stage actress.
• Maj. James H. Shoaff: A United States Marine Corps officer who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism in the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II.
• Richard Shoaff: An American film editor known for his work in the films The Negotiator and Three Kings, among others.

Other surnames

ShoafShoafe