Schaeffer is a German surname. It is a variant of Schaefer, from schäfer ("shepherd") and of Schaffer, from a noun (meaning steward or bailiff) derived from Middle High German schaffen.
People with the surname
A
Albert Charles Schaeffer, American mathematician
B
Billy Schaeffer, retired American professional basketball player
Boguslaw Schaeffer, Polish composer and theoretician
Brent Schaeffer, American arena football quarterback
C
Charles Frederick Schaeffer (1807–1879), Lutheran clergyman of the United States
Charles William Schaeffer (1813–1896), Lutheran clergyman and theologian of the United States Chester Schaeffer, American film editor Claude Schaeffer, French archaeologist who helped uncover the Ugaritic religious texts
D
David Frederick Schaeffer (1787–1837), Lutheran clergyman of the United States
Dietrich Schaeffer (1933-2010), German SPD politician
E
Edith Schaeffer, Chinese-American Christian author and widow of Francis Schaeffer Eric Schaeffer, American actor Eric D. Schaeffer, American theatre director
F
Francis Schaeffer, American-French theologian, philosopher, and founder of L'Abri Frank Schaeffer, French son of Francis Schaeffer Frederick Christian Schaeffer (1792–1832), Lutheran clergyman of the United States Frederick David Schaeffer (1760–1836), German-born Lutheran clergyman of the United States
G
Georg Anton Schäffer, (1779–1836), German physician and adventurer
George Schaeffer, former American head coach of the Arizona State college football program
H
Harry Schaeffer, former American major league baseball pitcher
J
Jacob Christian Schaeffer, 17th century German scientist
Jack Schaeffer (born John Case Schaeffer II), American musician, record producer and clarinetist James Schaeffer (1885–1972), American college sports coach James Soloman Schaeffer, American drum major and former leader of the Highty-Tighties Jim Schaeffer, American drum major and former leader of the Highty-Tighties (relative of James Soloman Schaeffer) Jody Schaeffer, American cartoonist and co-creator of Megas XLR John Schaeffer (art collector) (1941–2020), Australian art collector and businessman John Schaeffer (environmentalist) (born 1949), American solar power advocate John Schaeffer (trainer) (born 1951), American fitness trainer and author John Nevin Schaeffer (1882–1942), American classicist Jonathan Schaeffer, Canadian computer scientist
L
Lucien Schaeffer, French former footballer who played at the 1948 Summer Olympics Lawrence Schaeffer (born 1947), American geneticist
M
Matthew Schaeffer, American guitarist in the rock band Monovox
Mead Schaeffer, American artist and illustrator
P
Pierre Schaeffer, French musician and pioneer of musique concrète
R
Rebecca Schaeffer (1967–1989), American actress who was murdered by a fan
Roberto Schaefer, American photographer known for his work in the film Quantum of Solace