indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from occupation)
Other Forms FormsShreve, Shreves, Shreeves, Shreeve, Shrieves, Shrieve, Sherrif, Sherriff, Sheriffs, Shirreffs
Meaning & History
Occupational name for a sheriff, derived from Middle English schiref, shreeve, shryve literally meaning "sheriff", or from Old English scir meaning "shire, administrative district" and (ge)refa meaning "reeve". A famous bearer of this surname was the Israeli composer Noam Sheriff (1935-2018).