Scherer

Scherer is a surname of German origin. It is an occupational name for a cutter of cloth or a sheep-shearer, derived from the Middle High German word scherer, from Old High German skeran "to cut". The name has been widespread in German-speaking Europe since the Middle Ages and later spread to North and South America through colonization.

Etymology and History

The surname Scherer belongs to the class of occupational names, which are common in many cultures. The specific occupation of a "shearer" (of cloth or sheep) was essential in medieval Europe. The name is cognate with English Shearer and Dutch Scheer. Variants of the surname include Scheer and Scherrer, which often arose from regional spelling differences.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with this surname include Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer (1747–1804), a French general during the French Revolution; Alfredo Scherer (1903–1996), a Brazilian Roman Catholic prelate; Elizabeth Scherer (born 1976/77), an American judge; and Bee Scherer (born 1971), an English professor of gender studies. Others include athletes, a Polish-Jewish politician, and various figures in arts and sciences.

Key Facts

• Meaning: occupational name for a cutter or shearer
• Origin: German (Middle High German scherer)
• Type: occupational surname
• Usage regions: Germany, Switzerland, Austria; also found in Americas