Family name origins & meanings
- German : variant of Schaffer 1.
- German : variant of Schaefer.
- German : The Schaeffer line of Lutheran clergyman was brought over from Frankfurt-am-Main and Hanau, Germany, in 1774 by Frederick David Schaeffer (1760–1836), who accompanied one of his uncles to PA. Four of his sons, including the organizer of the Maryland Synod, and at least one of his grandsons became Lutheran clergymen.