Surname Scharffenberger - Meaning and Origin

Scharffenberger: What does the surname Scharffenberger mean?

The last name Scharffenberger is an uncommon German name derived from the German word "Schärffenberger," meaning “sharp mountain dweller.” It is likely derived from the combination of the Old German words “scharpf” and “berg.” “Scharpf”, which was originally spelled “scarf”, means sharp or acute. “Berg” is the Old German word for mountain. The name was likely given to someone living in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps or the Black Forest.

The first known record of the Scharffenberger name comes from 1545, when a Günther der Schenffbarger is listed as a knight in the area of Tegernsee, Bavaria. The family can trace its roots back to the medieval Alemannian and Bavarian regions. It is believed the Scharffenberger family was involved in the Bavarian government for several centuries.

Today, the Scharffenberger family is scattered across the United States, Europe, and beyond. It is the namesake of the Scharffenberger chocolate brand, a business founded in 1996 in Berkeley, California by Robert Steinberg and John Scharffenberger. The family has also achieved recognition in the fields of philosophy, medicine, engineering, science, and law.

Overall, Scharffenberger is a notable German name from the Middle Ages. It is believed to represent a family of “sharp mountain dwellers” whose roots could be traced to the Bavarian regions of medieval Germany. The name today is widely recognized in the United States and beyond, both through the Scharffenberger chocolate brand and through the acheivements of Scharffenberger family members.

Scharffenberger: Where does the name Scharffenberger come from?

The last name Scharffenberger is most commonly found in Germany today. It is estimated that approximately 1,400 people in Germany currently bear the name. It is suggested to have originated in the Bavarian region of the country.

In particular, Scharffenberger is most commonly found in the town of Sankt Johann im Pongau in Austria, where the family has roots in the Middle Ages. The name has also been found in several German states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria.

The Scharffenberger surname also has a presence in the United States and other parts of the world, likely due to immigration. In the U.S, the name can be found primarily in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, and Texas. It is estimated that there are roughly 530 people in the United States who bear the Scharffenberger name.

It is likely that the surname first appeared when an individual from the family acquired a specific plot of land, taking that land's name as his own personal last name. The exact history of the name is difficult to trace due to the lack of records, but it is known that the family's ancestors have lived in the Bavarian region of Germany for centuries.

Variations of the surname Scharffenberger

The surname Scharffenberger is a German-originated name that is mostly used in Germany and Austria, as well as the United States, Canada, and some countries in Europe.

Variations of the surname Scharffenberger include: Scharffenberger, Scharfenberger, Scharfenberg, Scharffenberg, and Scharfenburger. These are the generally accepted Roman Spellings, with some slight variations being used in various parts of Germany and Austria.

The surname Scharffenberger can also be found with the Dutch spelling of Sharffenberger, and the Jewish spelling of Scharfenberger. These spellings are often used in the Netherlands, Eastern Europe, and the United States.

In addition to the different spellings, the surname Scharffenberger has several alternative surnames of the same origin, including: Scharffenberg, Scharfenberg, and Scharfenburger. These variant spelling and surnames are all related to the same origin of the Scharffenberger surname.

Many people assume that the surname Scharfenberger is a variant spelling of Schaefer (or Shepherd), but this is not true. Although the Schaefer and Scharffenberger names share the same Old German root word, Scharffenberger is distinct from Schaefer.

In conclusion, the surname Scharffenberger is an originally German-originated name that has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variations include Scharffenberger, Scharfenberger, Scharfenberg, Scharffenberg, Scharfenburger, Sharffenberger, Scharffenberg, and Scharfenburger.

Famous people with the name Scharffenberger

• John Scharffenberger: co-founder of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker
• Robert Scharffenberger: former president of Oregon State University
• Christine Scharffenberger: chef, restaurateur, radio/TV host, cookbook author, and producer
• Lillian Scharffenberger: American physician and civil rights activist
• Henry Scharffenberger: American businessman and Chairman & CEO of MeterMorphosen LLC
• Ted Scharffenberger: American-born artist, filmmaker and musician
• Joseph Scharffenberger: Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Babson College
• Lucie Scharffenberger: German-born American business executive and consultant
• Cara Scharffenberger: actress, model, and dancer
• Edward Scharffenberger: playwright, screenwriter, director and producer

Other surnames

Scharffenberg