Surname Schapiro - Meaning and Origin
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Schapiro: What does the surname Schapiro mean?
Schapiro is a Jewish surname of Ashkenazi origin, primarily associated with Eastern European Jews. It derives from the Hebrew word "Sapir” which means "sapphire”, symbolizing beauty and wisdom. The name also bears connection to one of the twelve stones on the high priest's breastplate as described in the Book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible. However, it might also come from "Shapira," a similar, popular Ashkenazi surname. Over time, people addressed by this surname have varied the spelling, leading to alternatives such as Shapiro, Shapero, and Schapira among others. It has been used as a patronymic, matronymic, and a topographic name. Notably, there is a city named Shapira in Israel that could have potentially influenced the nomenclature. Despite these various lineage threads, the name Schapiro, in essence, signifies wisdom and beauty.
Order DNA origin analysisSchapiro: Where does the name Schapiro come from?
The last name Schapiro is a common name among Ashkenazi Jews of European descent. It is also found among Jews of Sephardic origin, as it has its roots in the Hebrew word “shapir” meaning beautiful.
Today, Schapiro is a frequently encountered last name in many parts of the world, especially Israel and the United States. People with this surname can be found across North America, Europe, South America, Australia, and even East Asia. In the United States, Schapiro is especially common in New York, California, Texas, and Florida.
The Schapiro surname has been used in many other forms including Shapiro, Shafiro, Shpiro, Shapira, Schaap, Schiffer, Schiffman, and even Shaverman in some cases. In many cases, Schapiro has also been shortened to Shapi, Shappy, and Schapi.
It’s believed that the Schapiro family originated from what is modern-day Poland and most likely the cities of Minsk or Vilnius. Because of this, many of the most well-known Schapiros are from Central and Eastern Europe.
No matter where Schapiro is found today, it is clear that the family continues to keep their legacy alive by consistently delivering stories, art, and culture, generation after generation.
Variations of the surname Schapiro
Surnames that are variants, spellings and of the same origin as Schapiro are Shapira, Shapiros, Shapiro, Schapper, Schaptalo and Schaebel.
The surname Schapiro is an Ashkenazi name of Jewish origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word 'shafar,' which means 'beautiful' or to 'adorn.' Historically, it was a nickname used to describe someone who was deemed attractive or well-groomed, or perhaps someone who was a dandy.
The surname Schapiro has many spelling variations, including Shapira, Shapiros, Shapiro, Schapper, Schaptalo, and Schaebel. All of these surnames stem from the same origin, and their usage is very widespread amongst the Jewish population.
Shapira is the more common spelling of the surname and is found predominantly in Eastern European countries such as Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Germany, the Ukraine and Russia. The other variants are also found throughout Europe, but are less common.
Schapter, Schaptalo and Schaebel are mainly German variants of the surname. The spelling Schapter is especially common in the German province of Prussia.
The Shapira variants are most common in America, especially amongst Jewish populations. This variant is also common in Israel, especially among Sephardic Jews, and is found in various forms such as Shefer, Sapir, Shapiro and Schapira. It is likely that many of the American Shapiras are descended from these Sephardic Jews.
Overall, Schapiro is the original Hebrew surname and many spelling variations, including Shapira, Shapiros, Shapiro, Schapper, Schaptalo and Schaebel, have developed over time and spread throughout Europe and America. All of these variants stem from the same Hebrew origin and thus still have strong ties to Jewish heritage.
Famous people with the name Schapiro
- Meyer Schapiro: An American art historian, literary critic, and social activist. He was one of the most influential scholars of the 20th century.
- Gary Schapiro: An American orthopedic surgeon who developed innovative techniques for arthroscopic surgery.
- Yaacov Schapiro: An American rabbi who founded the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was one of the most prominent rabbis of the 20th century.
- Fred Schapiro: An American businessman and philanthropist who was a co-founder of the Schapiro Brothers investment firm.
- Hiram Schapiro: An American entrepreneur and philanthropist who was one of the co-founders of the Schapiro Brothers investment firm.
- Parry Schapiro: An American entrepreneur and philanthropist who was also a co-founder of the Schapiro Brothers investment firm.
- Ed Schapiro: An American television producer and writer who created the show “Taxi.”
- Jennifer Schapiro: An American television writer who was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her work on the show “Taxi.”
- Joseph Schapiro: An American architect and engineer who designed numerous buildings around the world.
- Renee Schapiro: An American actress who appeared in the movie “Beverly Hills Cop III.”
- Robert Schapiro: An American rabbi and author who wrote the book “Living Judaism: The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition, and Practice.”
- Arthur Schapiro: An American mathematician who was a professor at the University of Maryland.
- Charles Schapiro: An American lawyer who was nominated for the United States Supreme Court by President William Howard Taft in 1912.
- Mose Schapiro: An American artist and graphic designer who was a member of the MAVO collective and created numerous vintage posters.
- Judith Schapiro: An American artist who worked in sculpture and public art and exhibited in numerous international galleries.