View source for Schaefer

{{about|the surname}}
'''Schaefer''' is an alternative spelling and [[cognate]] for the [[German language|German word]] [[Wikt:Schäfer|''schäfer'']], meaning [[Wikt:shepherd|'shepherd']],<ref>{{Citation
 |last=Morten |first=Oren Frederic |last2=Cole |first2=J.R. |year=1914
 |title=A History of Preston County, West Virginia, Part 1
 |chapter=III. The Old Frontier and the American Highlander |volume=1 |publisher=[[The Journal Publishing Company]]
 |place=[[Kingwood, West Virginia]] |page=312 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hBIwAAAAYAAJ
 |accessdate=14 August 2011 |format=Google eBook }}</ref> which itself descends from the [[Old High German]] ''[[Wikt:scāphare|scāphare]]''. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the [[Anglicisation|anglicised]] forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common [[surname]]s.

==Schaefer==
<!--Anthroponymy statistics: 18 American, 2 Canadian, 2 German, 1 New Zealand, 1 unknown => 75% US, 8% Canada, 8% Germany, 4% NZ-->
;Born in 1800–1899
*[[Arnold Schaefer]] (1819–1883), German historian
*[[Germany Schaefer]] (1877–1919), American baseball player
*[[Jacob Schaefer Sr]] (1850–1910), American billiards player
*[[Jacob Schaefer Jr]] (1894–1975) American billiards player
*[[Jacob Schaefer (composer)]] (1888–1936), American composer and conductor
*[[Marie Charlotte Schaefer]] (1874–1927), American physician
*[[Rudolph Jay Schaefer I]] (1863–1923), American businessman

;Born in 1900–1949
*[[Fred K. Schaefer]] (1904–1953), German and American geographer
*[[Walter V. Schaefer]] (1904–1986), American jurist and educator
*[[Vincent Schaefer]] (1906–1993), American chemist and meteorologist who developed cloud seeding
*[[Jack Warner Schaefer]] (1907–1991), American fiction author
*[[Milner Baily Schaefer]] (1912–1970), American fisheries biologist
*[[William Donald Schaefer]] (1921–2011), American politician
*[[Udo Schaefer]] (1926–2019), German Bahá'í author
*[[Will Schaefer]] (1928–2007), American composer 
*[[Bill Schaefer (field hockey)]] (1925–2003), New Zealand field hockey player
*[[Kermit Schaefer]] (1923–1979), American writer, broadcast and ''Pardon My Blooper'' record series producer
*[[Daniel Schaefer]] (1936–2006), American politician
*[[James Schaefer]] (1938–2018), American politician and rancher
*[[Bob Schaefer]] (born 1944), American baseball coach
*[[Henry F. Schaefer, III]] (born 1944), American chemist, academic and Protestant educator
*[[Gerard John Schaefer]] (1946–1995), American killer, rapist, and suspected serial killer
*[[Ronald P. Schaefer]] (born 1945), American linguist

;Born after 1950
*[[Vic Schaefer]] (born 1961), American basketball coach
*[[Peter Schaefer (ice hockey)]] (born 1977), Canadian ice hockey player
*[[Jarrett Schaefer]] (born 1979), America film director and screenwriter
*[[Nolan Schaefer]] (born 1980), Canadian ice hockey player
*[[Bradley E. Schaefer]], American physicist
*[[Kurt Schaefer]], American academic
*[[Peter Schaefer (author)]], American academic and religious history author
*[[Laura Schaefer (disambiguation)]], multiple people

==Schaeffer==
{{Main|Schaeffer (surname)}}
{{Surname|Schaeffer}}

==Schäfer==
{{Surname|Schäfer}}
<!--Anthroponymy statistics: German 14, Dutch 1, Prussian (Czech) 1, Austrian 1, Swiss 1, Danish 1 => 74% Germany, ~5% each for six other European countries -->
;Born after 1800
*[[Wilhelm Schäfer]] (1868–1952), German naturalist writer and magazine publisher
*[[Dirk Schäfer]] (1873–1931), Dutch pianist and composer
*[[Karl Emil Schäfer]] (1891–1917), German World War I pilot, recipient of the ''Pour le Mérite''

;Born after 1899
*[[Emanuel Schäfer]] (1900–1974), German SS officer, head of security police and SD in Serbia during World War II
*[[Gustav Schäfer (rower)]] (1906–1991), German Olympic rower
*[[Karl Schäfer (figure skater)]] (1909–1976), Austrian Olympic figure skater
*[[Ernst Schäfer]] (1910–1992), German hunter, zoologist and ornithologist
*[[Willy Schäfer (handball player)]] (1913–1980), Swiss Olympic field handball player
*[[Paul Schäfer]] (1921–2010), German-Chilean cult leader
*[[Hans Schäfer]] (1927–2017), German retired footballer
*[[Karl Heinz Schäfer]] (1932–1996), German-born composer and arranger working in France
*[[Willy Schäfer (actor)]] (1933–2011), German actor
*[[Barbara Schäfer]] (1934–2024), German politician
*[[Hans-Bernd Schäfer]] (born 1943), German economist and scholar
*[[Manfred Schäfer]] (1943–2023), German-Australian retired professional footballer
*[[Wolf Schäfer]] (born 1942), German-American historian
*[[Wolfgang Schäfer]] (born 1945), German choral conductor and academic

;Born after 1949
*[[Winfried Schäfer]] (born 1950), German football manager
*[[Anita Schäfer]] (born 1951), German politician
*[[Axel Schäfer]] (born 1952), German politician
*[[Klaus Schäfer (catholic theologian)]] (born 1958), German catholic theologian, priest and author
*[[Michael Schäfer]] (born 1959), Danish football manager
*[[Markus Schäfer]] (born 1961), German tenor
*[[Bärbel Schäfer]] (born 1963), German television presenter
*[[Christine Schäfer]] (born 1965), German soprano
*[[Ingo Schäfer]] (born 1965), German politician
*[[Thomas Schäfer (politician)]] (1966−2020) German lawyer and politician, Minister of Finance in Hesse
*[[Dagmar Schäfer]] (born 1968), German sinologist and historian of science
*[[Jan Schäfer]] (born 1974), German Olympic canoer
*[[Raphael Schäfer]] (born 1979), German footballer
*[[Marcel Schäfer]] (born 1984), German footballer
*[[András Schäfer]] (born 1999), Hungarian footballer

==Schäffer==
{{Surname|Schäffer}}

;Born after 1800
*Saint [[Anna Schäffer]] (1882–1925), German mystic, canonized by Pope Benedict in 2012
*[[Charles Schäffer]] (1838–1903), American physician and botanist
*[[Fritz Schäffer]] (1888–1967), German politician
*[[Hugo Schäffer]] (1875-1945), German politician
*[[Julius Schäffer]] (1882–1944), German mycologist
*[[Mary Schäffer Warren]] (1861–1939), American naturalist, illustrator, and explorer in Canada

;Born after 1950
*[[Andreas Schäffer]] (born 1984), German footballer

==Schafer==
{{Surname|Schafer}}
<!-- Anthroponymy statistics: 6 American, 2 Canadian, 1 English => 75% US, 25% Canada -->

;Born after 1800
*[[Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer]] (1850–1935), English physiologist

;Born after 1900
*[[Natalie Schafer]] (1900–1991), American actress
*[[Harold Schafer]] (1912–2001), American entrepreneur
*[[Alice Turner Schafer]] (1915–2009), American mathematician
*[[Richard D. Schafer]] (1918–2014), American mathematician
*[[Roy Schafer]] (1922–2018), American psychologist-psychoanalyst
*[[R. Murray Schafer]] (1933–2021), Canadian composer, writer, music educator and environmentalist
*[[Ronald W. Schafer]] (born 1938), American electrical engineer and academic
*[[Ed Schafer]] (born 1946), American state politician and United States Secretary of Agriculture
;Born after 1950
*[[Avi Schafer]] (born 1998), Japanese basketball player 
*[[Tim Schafer]] (born 1967), American computer game designer
*[[Arthur Schafer]] (living), Canadian ethicist and academic
*[[Eric Schafer]] (born 1977), American mixed martial artist
*[[Jordan Schafer]] (born 1986), American baseball player
*[[Hunter Schafer]] (born 1999),  American model, activist, and actress
*[[Sakura Schafer-Nameki]], German physicist

==Schaffer==
{{Surname|Schaffer}}
<!-- Anthroponymy statistics: 2 Hungarian, 1 Swedish, 1 English + 1 British, 1 E. German, 12 American => 67% US, 11% each Hungary and UK, 5.6% each Sweden and East Germany -->
;Born after 1800
*[[Károly Schaffer]] (1864–1939), Hungarian anatomist and neurologist
*[[Alfréd Schaffer]] (1893–1945), Hungarian footballer

;Born after 1900
*[[Jimmie Schaffer]] (born 1936), American baseball player
*[[Janne Schaffer]] (born 1945), Swedish songwriter and guitarist

;Born after 1950
*[[Simon Schaffer]] (born 1955), English academic
*[[Frank Schaffer]] (born 1958), East German Olympic athlete
*[[Bob Schaffer]] (born 1962), American state politician
*[[Jon Schaffer]] (born 1968), American guitarist and songwriter
*[[Daniel Schaffer]] (born 1969), British graphic novelist
*[[Akiva Schaffer]] (born 1977), American comedy writer and songwriter
*[[Denny Schaffer]] (living), American radio personality
*[[Gail Schaffer]] (living), American state politician
*[[Ken Schaffer]] (living), American inventor
*[[Lewis Schaffer]] (born 1957), American comedian
*[[Jonathan Schaffer]] (living), American-Australian philosopher

==Shafer==
{{Surname|Shafer}}
;Born after 1800
*[[Jacob K. Shafer]] (1823–1876), American national politician
*[[William T. Shafer]] (1825–1882), American politician from Pennsylvania
*[[Orator Shafer]] (1851–1922), American baseball player
*[[John Adolph Shafer]] (1863–1918), American botanist
*[[Taylor Shafer]] (1866–1945), American baseball player
*[[George F. Shafer]] (1888–1948), American state politician
*[[Tillie Shafer]] (1889–1962), American baseball player
*[[Phil Shafer]] (1891–1971), American racecar driver
*[[Paul W. Shafer]] (1893–1954), American politician

;Born after 1900
*[[Ruth Shafer]] (1912 – 1972), American engineer
*[[Raymond P. Shafer]] (1917–2006), American state politician
*[[Whitey Shafer]] (1934–2019), American country songwriter and musician
*[[Drew Shafer]] (1936–1989), American gay rights activist
*[[Glenn Shafer]] (born 1946), American mathematician, co-developer of Dempster-Shafer theory

;Born after 1950
*[[Grant Shafer]] (born 1951), American biblical scholar and Judaic historian
*[[Jack Shafer]] (born 1951), American journalist and columnist
*[[Ross Shafer]] (born 1954), American comedian and motivational speaker
*[[Robert R. Shafer]] (born 1958), American actor
*[[Dirk Shafer]] (born 1962), American model, actor, screenwriter and director
*[[Scott Shafer]] (born 1967), American college football coach
*[[David Shafer (politician)]] (born 1965), American politician
*[[Jeremy Shafer]] (born 1970s), American entertainer and oragamist
*[[Justin Shafer]] (born 1992), American baseball player

==Shaffer==
{{Surname|Shaffer}}
<!-- Anthroponymy statistics: 23 American, 1 Austrian, 1 English, 1 Canadian => 88% US, 3.8% each other nations -->
;Born after 1800
*[[Shaffer (baseball)]], baseball player
*[[John Shaffer (governor)|John Shaffer]] (1827–1870), American territorial governor
*[[John D. Shaffer]] (1858–1931), American politician in Iowa
*[[John Shaffer (baseball)|John Shaffer]] (1864–1926), American baseball player
*[[Joseph Crockett Shaffer]] (1880–1958), American national politician
*[[Harry G. Shaffer (politician)|Harry G. Shaffer]] (1885–1971), American state politician

;Born after 1900
*[[Anthony Shaffer (writer)]] (1926–2001), English playwright, novelist, and screenwriter
*[[David Shaffer]] (born 1936), American physician
*[[Earl Shaffer]] (1918–2002), American outdoorsman and author
*[[Elaine Shaffer]] (1925–1973), American flutist
*[[Harry G. Shaffer]] (1919-2009), Austrian-American economics academic
*[[Jack Shaffer]] (1909–1963), American professional basketball player
*[[James Schaffer|James Shaffer]] (1910–2014), American religious leader
<!-- Please add a source for notability & then restore visibility: *[[Jay C. Shaffer]] (born 1936-) entomologist, curator of lepidoptera at the Natural History Museum, London-->
*[[Jim G. Shaffer]] (born 1944), American archeology and anthropology academic
*[[John H. Shaffer]] (1919–1997), American government administrator
*[[Juliet Popper Shaffer]] (born 1932), American psychologist and statistician
*[[Lee Shaffer]] (born 1939), American professional basketball player
*[[Leland Shaffer]] (1912–1993), American professional football player
*[[Louise Shaffer]] (born 1942), American actress, script writer, and author
*[[Tim Shaffer]] (1945-2011), American politician
*[[Mary Shaffer]] (born 1947), American artist
*[[Paul Shaffer]] (born 1949), Canadian-American musician, actor, author, comedian and composer
* Sir [[Peter Shaffer]] (1926–2016), English dramatist and playwright
*[[Robert H. Shaffer]] (1915–2017), American educator

;Born after 1950
*[[Anthony Shaffer (intelligence officer)|Anthony Shaffer]] (born 1962), American Reserve Army Lieutenant Colonel and CIA intelligence officer
*[[Erica Shaffer]] (born 1970), American actress
*[[James Shaffer]] (born 1970), American guitarist
*[[Matthew Shaffer]] (born 1978), American musical theatre, television, and film actor
*[[Disappearance of Brian Shaffer|Brian Shaffer]] (born 1979), missing American medical student
*[[Kevin Shaffer]] (born 1980), American professional football player
*[[Atticus Shaffer]] (born 1998), American actor
*[[Justin Shaffer]] (born 1998), American football player
*[[Brenda Shaffer]] (living), American political science author
*[[Chris Shaffer]] (living), American singer-songwriter
*[[Kyle Shaffer]] (living), Retired Combat Disabled Marine and Doctor
*[[Deborah Shaffer]] (living), American filmmaker

==See also==
{{Wiktionarypar|Schäfer|Shaefer|Schäffer|Shafer|Shaffer|Schaffer}}
*[[Schafferer]]
*[[Schieffer]]
*[[Sheaffer]]
*[[Shepherd (surname)]]
*[[Schaap]], surname
*[[Schaper]], surname
*[[Michiel Schapers]] (b. 1959), Dutch tennis player
*[[Schaps]], surname
*[[Schapira]], surname
*[[Shapira]], surname
*[[Shapiro]], surname
*[[Shapiro]], surname
{{srt}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Shepherd-surname}}
{{Surname|Schaefer}}
[[Category:Occupational surnames]]
[[Category:German-language surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames of Jewish origin]]
<!-- extra interwiki-->
[[de:Schäfer (Familienname)]]