Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • English and Scottish : status name for a sheriff, from Middle English schiref ‘sheriff’, ‘administrative officer of an English shire’, from Old English scīr ‘shire’ + (ge)rēfa ‘reeve’ (see Reeve). Compare Shreve.

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe