Explore the Family Name Sheaffer
The meaning of Sheaffer
Americanized form of German Schäffer (see Schaffer 2).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sheaffer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Sheaffer saw a minor shift in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was the 7792nd most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it had dropped slightly to the 8087th position. However, despite this drop in rank, the total number of people bearing the surname Sheaffer actually increased from 3934 to 4100, which is a rise of approximately 4.22 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,792 | #8,087 | -3.79% |
| Count | 3,934 | 4,100 | 4.22% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.46 | 1.39 | -4.79% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sheaffer
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals a slight diversification among individuals with the surname Sheaffer between 2000 and 2010. While the majority of Sheaffers identified as White in both years, there was a small decrease from 96.92 percent to 96.17 percent. The proportion identifying as Hispanic experienced the most considerable growth, rising from 0.89 percent to 1.41 percent. Those claiming two or more ethnic identities also increased from 0.71 percent to 1.02 percent. The percentage of Sheaffers who identified as Black grew from 0.58 percent to 0.68 percent. However, there was a notable decrease in the proportion of Sheaffers identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.92% | 96.17% | -0.77% |
| Hispanic | 0.89% | 1.41% | 58.43% |
| Two or More Races | 0.71% | 1.02% | 43.66% |
| Black | 0.58% | 0.68% | 17.24% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.61% | 0.56% | -8.2% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.28% | 0.15% | -46.43% |
Sheaffer ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Sheaffer is French & German, which comprises 48.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (35.9%) and Eastern European (4.4%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Greek & Balkan.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 48.0% |
| British & Irish | 35.9% |
| Eastern European | 4.4% |
| Other | 11.7% |
Possible origins of the surname Sheaffer
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Sheaffer have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 79.20% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 79.20% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 79.20% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 78.10% |
| County Durham, United Kingdom | 78.10% |
What Sheaffer haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Sheaffer is R-Z381, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z381 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-Z58 and R-DF88, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Fey, Getz, Berner, Westphal, Theis, Hanes, Bayliss, Ries, Mathes, Nissen.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Sheaffer surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Sheaffer have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Sheaffer" Surname 51.4%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Sheaffer" Surname 35.5%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Sheaffer" Surname 28.6%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Sheaffer" Surname 17.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Sheaffer?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Sheaffer are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition