Surname Schärfe - Meaning and Origin
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Schärfe: What does the surname Schärfe mean?
The last name Schärfe has its roots in the German language and is a surname of habitational origin. It is derived from a river in the Middle Rhine region of Germany, a tributary of the river Rhine, and is thought to have been derived from an Old High German word for ‘border’. The surname therefore suggests that the family originated from somewhere close to this river border – which could have been a line of demarcation or the area of habitation near it.
Schärfe is thought to be an occupational surname as well, referring to an occupation related to a sharp object – for instance, as a sword-smith or blacksmith, which could indicate a military or artisanal background. These occupations were particularly prominent in families of the Middle Ages, which could explain the longevity of the surname.
The name Schärfe is relatively uncommon and usually limited to the Central European region. In modern times, the name might take on a variety of different spellings, depending on location, including Scharfe, Scheerfe, Scharfen, Scharffen, Scharver and Schärffer – though all share the common root of the word ‘sharpen’.
Order DNA origin analysisSchärfe: Where does the name Schärfe come from?
The last name Schärfe is a fairly common last name across Europe today, especially in Germany and Austria. Within Germany, the name is especially concentrated in the east, in the states of Saxony, Lower-Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. The name is also quite common throughout Central and Eastern Europe, with high concentrations in Hungary, Romania, and Poland. The name is uncommon in North America, but there are pockets of Schärfe’s in the U.S. and Canada.
The Schärfe surname is relatively old, with records of the name dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be of Germanic origin, derived from the word “Schaerf” meaning sharp. It is thought that the name was originally used to describe someone with a sharp mind or wit.
The Schärfe surname is still quite popular today, with many families bearing the name throughout Europe and beyond. It is interesting to note that it is believed that the name is descended from an ancient Germanic lineage, linking its many contemporary bearers to a distant and long-forgotten past.
Variations of the surname Schärfe
The surname Schärfe is a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname. It has a variety of spellings and variants, which are common for German surnames and Jewish surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of Schärfe are Scharfe, Sharfe, Scharf, Sharf, Zcharf, Scharff, Scharffer and Scharo. The English spelling for this surname is Sharp.
The Jewish variant of Schärfe is spelled Sharif. Another variant is Scharfi, which is an eastern European variant, common in Romania.
The surname Schärfe can also be found in patronymic forms, which indicate that the person is the son of a man from Schärfe. The patronymic form of Schärfe is Schärfer.
Surnames of the same origin as Schärfe include Schaar, Scharffenberg, Scharfenstein, Scharhhagel, Scharfscheier, Scharfrichter and Scharfsteiner.
Most of these surnames are often found in countries where German was historically spoken, such as Austria, Hungary and Switzerland. Some of them can also be found in Jewish communities in the United States, Europe and Israel.
Famous people with the name Schärfe
- Fritz Schärfe: Fritz Schärfe is a German singer, songwriter, and actor. He is most well known for his electro-rock style of music and has released over twenty albums in his career.
- Julius Schärfe: Julius Schärfe is a Swiss actor and film director. He has starred in films such as The Reader, Where God Left His Shoes, The Devil’s Double, and For Those We Loved.
- Laura Schärfe: Laura Schärfe is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She has released a few albums and has toured around Europe with her band.
- Hans-Jürgen Schärfe: Hans-Jürgen Schärfe is a German entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Schärfe Group, an engineering and materials management company.
- Helmut Schärfe: Helmut Schärfe is a German chemist and professor at the Technical University of Berlin. He is best known for his research in supramolecular chemistry and organometallic compounds.
- Jean Schärfe: Jean Schärfe is a French actor and producer. He has appeared in roles such as in the films The Aristocrats and Flight of the Red Balloon.
- Charlotte Schärfe: Charlotte Schärfe is a German radio host and former journalist. She is the manager of Radio Kulturradiosender Klockwurm.
- Giddeon Schärfe: Giddeon Schärfe is an Israeli computer scientist and professor at Bar-Ilan University. He is best known for his work in robotics and machine learning.
- Sonja Schärfe: Sonja Schärfe is a German journalist and author. She is the author of several books, including A New World in Old Berlin and The Wall: A Living History.