Shafter
The name Shafter has uncertain origins, potentially meaning "maker of shafts or spears."
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Shafter. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shafter today is around 94 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shafter births was 1898 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shafter. 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
- • The typical person named Shafter is about 94 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Shafters were born before 1942.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Shafter. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1898
14 babies that year
Average age
94
years old
1942 SSA rank
#3,517
Tracked since 1898
Popularity
Shafter: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shafter from the 1890s through to the 1940s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 48 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shafter 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 Shafter during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shafters live
Origin
Meaning and history of Shafter
The given name Shafter is a relatively uncommon and unique name, with its origins shrouded in mystery. However, some linguistic scholars suggest that it may have derived from the Old English word "sceaft," which means a shaft or spear. This could potentially link the name to warriors or hunters from ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes.
Alternatively, some experts propose that Shafter may have evolved from the German surname "Schäfer," which means "shepherd." This could indicate a connection to pastoral communities or those involved in livestock rearing. However, the transition from a surname to a first name is not well documented.
Historical references to the name Shafter are scarce, and its usage in ancient texts or religious scriptures remains unverified. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 18th century, with a few notable individuals bearing the name.
One of the earliest known figures with the name Shafter was William Rufus Shafter (1835-1906), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He later served as a major general during the Spanish-American War and is remembered for his leadership in the capture of Santiago de Cuba.
Another prominent figure was Sir Edmund Shafter (1858-1939), a British civil engineer and industrialist. He played a significant role in the development of the London Underground railway system and was knighted for his contributions to public transportation.
In the realm of literature, the name appears in the works of American author Edith Wharton. One of her characters, Shafter Martin, features prominently in her novel "The Custom of the Country" (1913), depicting the social climbers of early 20th century New York society.
Shafter Howard (1899-1985) was an American football player and coach, best known for his tenure as the head coach of the University of Southern California (USC) football team from 1925 to 1933. He led the Trojans to their first Rose Bowl victory in 1929.
More recently, Shafter Desilva (born 1982) is a Sri Lankan cricketer who has represented his national team in both Test and One Day International formats. He is renowned for his aggressive batting style and has been a key player for Sri Lanka since his debut in 2003.
While the name Shafter may not be as widespread as many other given names, its unique origins and the notable individuals who have borne it throughout history make it a fascinating and intriguing moniker, leaving room for further exploration and understanding of its etymology.
People
Shafter + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shafter 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
Shafter: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shafter?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shafter 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Shafter a common name?
We classify Shafter as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 119 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shafter most popular?
The single biggest year for Shafter was 1898, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shafter is about 94 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shafter a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shafter 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.
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.