Schaffer
An occupational name from German, meaning "shepherd" or "herdsman."
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Schaffer. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Schaffer today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Schaffer births was 2012 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Schaffer. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Schaffer. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2012
5 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2012 SSA rank
#13,865
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Schaffer: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Schaffer by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Schaffer during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Schaffer
The given name Schaffer has its origins rooted in the German language and culture, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "Schaffer," which translates to "steward" or "manager." This occupational name was initially bestowed upon those responsible for overseeing and managing estates, farms, or households on behalf of a lord or landowner.
During the Middle Ages, the name Schaffer gained prominence in German-speaking regions, particularly in areas now encompassed by modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It became a common designation for individuals engaged in administrative or managerial roles within the feudal system.
While no definitive records exist of the name's appearance in ancient texts or religious scriptures, some of the earliest documented instances of the name Schaffer can be traced back to the 13th century. Historical records from this period, such as legal documents, property deeds, and tax records, often mention individuals bearing this name.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Schaffer was Johann Schaffer, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Nuremberg, Germany, during the late 14th century (circa 1370-1440). His successful business ventures and influential role in the city's affairs earned him a respected reputation among his contemporaries.
Another notable figure was Peter Schaffer, a renowned playwright and screenwriter from England, born in 1926 and passed away in 2016. His most acclaimed work, "Equus," a psychological thriller, earned him critical acclaim and garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious Tony Award for Best Play in 1975.
In the realm of art, the name Schaffer is associated with Johann Gottfried Schaffer, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1720 to 1795. His intricate etchings and engravings of botanical specimens and landscapes were widely admired and contributed significantly to the development of scientific illustration during the Enlightenment period.
The name also has a presence in the field of music, with Johann Schaffer, a German composer and organist from the 18th century (1722-1790), known for his contributions to the development of the Classical style in organ music.
Lastly, mention should be made of Johannes Schaffer, a German astronomer and mathematician who lived between 1624 and 1667. He made significant contributions to the study of sunspots and was among the first to observe and document the transit of Mercury across the sun's disk in 1631.
People
Schaffer + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Schaffer as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Schaffer: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Schaffer?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Schaffer going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Schaffer a common name?
We classify Schaffer as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Schaffer most popular?
The single biggest year for Schaffer was 2012, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Schaffer is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Schaffer in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Schaffer a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Schaffer in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Schaffer still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Schaffer in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Schaffer can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Schaffer?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.