Is the last name shaffer a german name?

Germanic, but not specifically German. You can also find it in Switzerland, Alsace, Austria and the Netherlands. You have to trace back to the immigrant ancestor to figure out which is your ancestral land.

Is the last name shaffer a german name?
http://www.blurtit.com/q513582.html


From a similar question at another Q %26amp;A-type site:


"The surname 'Shaffer' is of German origin. It basically means 'watchful'. It is also said to be the americanized version of the name 'Schaffer'.





http://www.ancestry.co.uk/facts/Shaffer-...


Shaffer Name Meaning and History


Americanized spelling of German Schaffer 鈥?quot;steward"鈥?or of Schaefer "shepherd"鈥?


Schaffer Name Meaning and History


German: occupational name for a steward or bailiff, from an agent derivative of Middle High German schaffen 鈥榯o manage鈥?


South German (Schaffer) and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Schaefer.


Schaefer Name Meaning and History


German (Schafer) and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a shepherd, from an agent derivative of German Schaf, Middle High German "schaf" 鈥?quot;sheep"鈥? This name is widespread throughout central and eastern Europe