When was Jan most popular?

The name Jan reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Jan Schafer?

The name Jan Schafer combines two different traditions: the first name Jan has English roots, while the surname Schafer originates from Germanic.

Jan Schafer — Name Meaning, Origin & Statistics

Jan Schafer is a name that combines English origins. The first name Jan is a feminine given name of English origin. Jan is a form of John that is used in various languages. (See the "Other names" section in this page's infobox for more variants.) The name is used in Afrikaans, Belarusian, Circassian, Catalan, Cornish, Croatian, Czech, English (especially in Devon dialect), Dutch, German, Kazakh, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Scandinavian and Finnic languages. It is the most prevalent in the Czech Republic. In English, the name Jan is often derived from feminine forms of John, a shortening of the first names Janet, Janice, Janine, or occasionally the unrelated January, with corresponding pronunciation. The surname Schafer: Schaefer is an alternative spelling and cognate for the German word schäfer, meaning 'shepherd', which itself descends from the Old High German scāphare. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the anglicised forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common surnames. Jan is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 79K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Jan reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Jan

English

Jan is a form of John that is used in various languages. (See the "Other names" section in this page's infobox for more variants.) The name is used in Afrikaans, Belarusian, Circassian, Catalan, Cornish, Croatian, Czech, English (especially in Devon dialect), Dutch, German, Kazakh, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Scandinavian and Finnic languages. It is the most prevalent in the Czech Republic. In English, the name Jan is often derived from feminine forms of John, a shortening of the first names Janet, Janice, Janine, or occasionally the unrelated January, with corresponding pronunciation.

Surname: Schafer

Germanic

Schaefer is an alternative spelling and cognate for the German word schäfer, meaning 'shepherd', which itself descends from the Old High German scāphare. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the anglicised forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common surnames.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Jan is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Jan by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Jan Schafer:

4

Expression Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

7

Soul Urge Number

Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.

6

Personality Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Jan?: The first name Jan originates from English. Jan is a form of John that is used in various languages. (See the "Other names" section in this page's infobox for more variants.) The name is used in Afrikaans, Belarusian, Circassian, Catalan, Cornish, Croatian, Czech, English (especially in Devon dialect), Dutch, German, Kazakh, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Scandinavian and Finnic languages. It is the most prevalent in the Czech Republic. In English, the name Jan is often derived from feminine forms of John, a shortening of the first names Janet, Janice, Janine, or occasionally the unrelated January, with corresponding pronunciation.
When was Jan most popular?: The name Jan reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Schafer?: The surname Schafer originates from Germanic. Schaefer is an alternative spelling and cognate for the German word schäfer, meaning 'shepherd', which itself descends from the Old High German scāphare. Variants "Shaefer", "Schäfer" (a standardized spelling in many German-speaking countries after 1880), the additional alternative spelling "Schäffer", and the anglicised forms "Schaeffer", "Schaffer", "Shaffer", "Shafer", and "Schafer" are all common surnames.
What are the origins of the name Jan Schafer?: The name Jan Schafer combines two different traditions: the first name Jan has English roots, while the surname Schafer originates from Germanic.