This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Schaffter family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Schaffter Family History

Schaffter Surname Meaning

German (Schäffter): occupational name for a maker of wooden shafts for tools and weapons from an agent derivative of Middle High German.

Middle Low German schaft means 'shaft, spear, lance'.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Schaffter family from?

You can see how Schaffter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Schaffter family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Schaffter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 2 Schaffter families living in Manitoba. This was about 67% of all the recorded Schaffter's in Canada. Manitoba had the highest population of Schaffter families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Schaffter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Schaffter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Schaffter. 40% of Schaffter men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Schaffter women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Schaffter were Pumper and Farmer.

View Census Data for Schaffter | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    40%
  • Laborer
    18%
  • Farming
    14%
  • Pumper
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    34%
  • Type Setter
    34%
  • Farmer
    34%

What Schaffter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Schaffter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Schaffter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Schaffter

Passenger Lists

There are 341 immigration records available for the last name Schaffter. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Schaffter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 206 military records available for the last name Schaffter. For the veterans among your Schaffter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Schaffter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Schaffter family history

Discover More

What is the average Schaffter lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Schaffter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Schaffter in 1957 was 47, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Schaffter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Schaffter ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Schaffter family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial