Find out how popular the last name Shoaf is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Shoaf.

Shoaf, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Shoaf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shoaf in America

Shoaf is the 9994th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shoaf surname appeared 3,227 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Shoaf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shoaf to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Shoaf

The surname Shoaf is of German origin, with its roots traceable to the early 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "schof," which referred to a bundle of straw or a sheaf of wheat. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals involved in agricultural pursuits, such as farmers or landowners.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Shoaf surname can be found in the annals of the town of Freiberg, located in the present-day state of Saxony, Germany. In a document dated 1532, a certain Hans Shoaf is mentioned, indicating the presence of the name in that region during that period.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, including Schoff, Schauf, and Schöff. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and linguistic nuances, as well as scribal errors in transcribing the name over time.

In the 17th century, the Shoaf surname made its way to the American colonies, with several individuals bearing the name appearing in various records. One notable example is Johann Schoff, who arrived in Pennsylvania from the Palatine region of Germany in 1743. He and his family settled in the area that is now known as Schuylkill County, where they established themselves as farmers and landowners.

Another prominent figure bearing the Shoaf surname was John Shoaf, born in 1762 in Virginia. He served as a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and later became a respected community leader in his home state.

The 19th century saw the emergence of several individuals with the Shoaf surname who left their mark on various fields. One such individual was William Shoaf (1809-1885), a renowned educator and author from Ohio. He wrote several textbooks on mathematics and science, which were widely used in schools across the United States.

In the realm of politics, John W. Shoaf (1838-1912) was a notable figure. Born in Pennsylvania, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the state of Illinois from 1895 to 1899.

The 20th century brought forth several accomplished individuals bearing the Shoaf surname. Among them was Alfred C. Shoaf (1889-1964), a prominent lawyer and judge from North Carolina. He served as a Superior Court judge and was widely respected for his legal acumen and dedication to the pursuit of justice.

While the surname Shoaf may not be as prevalent as some others, its rich history and diverse contributions across various fields make it a testament to the enduring legacy of the German immigrants who brought it to the shores of the New World.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shoaf

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Shoaf.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Shoaf was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Shoaf has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Shoaf was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shoaf, please contact us.

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