Surname Scharfe - Meaning and Origin
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Scharfe: What does the surname Scharfe mean?
The last name Scharfe is a German and English surname that has various possible meanings. The German language meaning of this surname is sharp or pointed. This would be due to someone's personality, physical appearance, or their manner of speaking.
Within England, the surname Scharfe is an Anglicized form of the German name. Historically this name was likely adopted by immigrants to England from Germany who either had the Scharfe surname, or a different German surname that was anglicized to Scharfe.
The German, Dutch, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origins of the name Scharfe can all be traced to the Middle High German word "scharf," which means "sharp." As a personal name, this name was likely given to people who displayed sharp traits in their personalities, or even their physical characteristics. The change from the Middle High German "scharf" to the English "Scharfe" was also likely due to the various dialects found across different parts of Europe throughout history.
Given all of this, it is safe to say that Scharfe is a surname likely given to those who were known for their sharp physical traits, manner of speaking, or even personalities.
Order DNA origin analysisScharfe: Where does the name Scharfe come from?
Scharfe is a German surname meaning "sharp" or "pointed." Today, it is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is also scattered throughout other European countries, including France, Italy, and Spain. In the United States, Scharfe is a relatively rare surname; there are fewer than 500 people in the United States with this last name.
Most people with the surname Scharfe are descendants of immigrants who moved to Europe from Germany in the early 1800s. In Germany, Scharfe is most commonly found in the state of Brandenburg and neighbouring states. It is most common in the towns of Bernau, Angermünde, and Neuruppin.
In the United States, the surname Scharfe is mainly spread out across the Midwestern and Eastern United States, although some states such as California and Texas also have a few people with the last name. Most of the Americans with this name come from Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
Overall, Scharfe is not a common surname; however, it can be found scattered across Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Scharfe
The surname Scharfe is a Germanic surname that is derived from the Old German word “sharf” meaning “sharp, keen, fierce”. Due to its origin, the surname has several spelling variations and many names that are believed to have the same origin, such as Scharf, Scharff, Sharf, Schewarf, Scharrf, Sharffe, Schwerf, Scharfen, Scharffen, and Scharffenberger.
In Germany, the spelling variations are also more common such as Scharfen, Scharffen, and Scharffenberger, while in central and eastern Europe the spelling variants of Scharf, Scharff, and Scharrf are more popular.
In the United States, the spelling variation of Sharf is more common and is shared by the Ashkenazi Jewish population which is believed to have origins in Eastern Europe and the Pale of Settlement. The spelling variation of Schwerf is also common in the United States but is believed to be the result of a typo when the original German expression “Scharfe” was being recorded.
People who have the same origin as the Scharfe surname can also adopt a surname of the same origin that is spelled differently, such as Spielman, Schelling, and Schmanke. Other surnames with the same origin can be found in Ashkenazi Jewish population and include Scherfman, Sheyfman, and Shiffman.
In conclusion, the surname Scharfe has numerous spelling variations and many surnames of the same origin. It is a Germanic surname that is derived from the Old German word “sharf” meaning “sharp, keen, fierce”. In the United States, the spelling variations of Sharf and Schwerf are more common while Scharfen, Scharffen, and Scharffenberger are more popular in Germany. In addition, there are many other surnames of the same origin that are adopted by the Ashkenazi Jewish population throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Scharfe
- Hans-Josef Scharfe: former German politician of the Christian Democratic Union.
- David Schmidt Scharfe: German psychologist, professor, author, and lecturer.
- Udo Scharfe: German geneticist and professor of animal genetics.
- Andrea Scharfe: German alpine skier.
- Corrine Scharfe: German judoka.
- Samuel Scharfe: German gymnast and Olympic medalist.
- Carden Scharfe: German bobsledder and Olympic medalist.
- Eva Scharfe: German figure skater.
- Alain Scharfe: German footballer and coach.
- Konrad Scharfe: German pornographic film actor.
- Anke Scharfe: German actress and singer.
- Julian Scharfe: German musician and composer.
- Rüdiger Scharfe: German politician and former minister for economics.
- Andreas Scharfe: German mathematician who specialized in number theory.
- Wilhelm Scharfe: German painter and architect.
- Carsten Scharfe: German neurobiologist and professor.
- Wilhelm Scharfe: German poet and philosopher.
- Wolfram Scharfe: German economist and professor.
- Marie Scharfe: German playwright and director.
- Petra Scharfe-Wacker: German photographer and author.