Origin of the Shafer Surname
The Shafer surname is of English origin (Old English). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #1,379 with 25,641 Americans (8.69 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Shafer traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Shafer |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | English |
| Language | Old English |
| US Rank (2010) | #1,379 |
| US Count (2010) | 25,641 |
| Per 100K People | 8.69 |
| First Letter | S |
Ethnic Distribution of Shafer
Among 25,641 Americans named Shafer, the largest self-reported group is White (94.16%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Shafer Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Shafer moved down. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
Where did the Shafer family really come from?
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The Complete Story of the Shafer Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Shafer Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Shafer
- ✓ The Shafer coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Shafer families live today
- ✓ Notable Shafer bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Shafer fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Shafer
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Shafer.
Other English Surnames
Explore more surnames with English roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same English origin as Shafer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shafer
Top Surnames Starting with S
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter S, ranked by population.
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