Schiff is a

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

surname meaning "

ship A ship is a large watercraft, vessel that travels the world's oceans and other Waterway, navigable waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research and fishing. Ships are generally disti ...

". The Schiffs are known from "about 1370, the earliest date to which any contemporary Jewish family can be definitely traced". The Schiff family, is a prominent Jewish banking dynasty that rose to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originating from Germany, the Schiff family gained significant influence in American banking through figures like Jacob H. Schiff, a partner at Kuhn, Loeb & Co. Jacob Schiff played a crucial role in financing major U.S. railroads and supporting Japan during the Russo-Japanese War. The Schiff family was also involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly in Jewish causes and institutions. Their legacy is marked by contributions to finance, politics, and philanthropy. The Schiff and Rothschild families were closely linked through shared heritage and proximity, particularly in the Jewish ghetto of Frankfurt during the 19th century. Both families resided in the Judengasse (Jew's Alley), the Jewish quarter of Frankfurt, which was notorious for its cramped conditions and restrictive policies towards Jewish inhabitants. The Rothschilds' family home, known as the House of the Green Shield (zum Grünen Schild), became their business center as well as their residence. Mayer Amschel Rothschild started his banking empire from this home, and it became a symbol of the family’s growing financial influence. The Schiff family, also of Jewish banking lineage, lived in the same home and had close connections with the Rothschilds. Jacob Schiff, a key figure in the Schiff family, grew up in this environment and later became a powerful banker in his own right, forging strong ties with the Rothschilds through their shared business and cultural roots. The Schiff family’s ties with the Rothschilds were not only social but also professional, as Jacob Schiff’s career path in the banking world paralleled that of the Rothschilds, with both families contributing to international finance. Schiff’s later involvement in Kuhn, Loeb & Co. in New York and his support for global causes echoed the Rothschild legacy in Europe. This connection was reflected in the mutual respect and shared Jewish identity between the two families, who both played significant roles in shaping financial markets during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

People

Adam Schiff Adam Bennett Schiff (born June 22, 1960) is an American lawyer, author, and politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, junior United States Senate, United States senator from California, a seat he has held since 2024. A m ...

(born 1960), American politician from California *

András Schiff Sir András Schiff (; born 21 December 1953) is a Hungarian-born British classical pianist and conductor. He has received numerous awards and honours, including the Grammy Award, Gramophone Award, Mozart Medal, and Royal Academy of Music Bac ...

(born 1953), Hungarian pianist * Arthur Schiff (1940–2006), American infomercial copywriter *

David Schiff David Schiff (born August 30, 1945 in New York City) is an American composer, writer and conductor whose music draws on elements of jazz, rock, and klezmer styles, showing the influence of composers as diverse as Stravinsky, Mahler, Charles Mingus ...

(born 1945), American composer * Don Schiff (born 1955), American composer and musician *

Dorothy Schiff Dorothy Schiff (March 11, 1903 – August 30, 1989) was an American businesswoman who was the owner and then publisher of the ''New York Post'' for nearly 40 years. She was a granddaughter of financier Jacob Schiff. Schiff was interested in soc ...

(1903–1989), American newspaper proprietor *

Frieda Schiff Warburg Frieda Warburg (Birth name, née Schiff; February 3, 1876 – September 14, 1958) was a Jewish-American philanthropist and communal worker from New York. Life Warburg was born on February 3, 1876, in New York City, New York City, New York, t ...

(1876–1958), American philanthropist *

Gary Schiff Gary Schiff (born February 3, 1972, as Gary J. Schiffhauer) is an American politician and activist who represented Ward 9 on the Minneapolis City Council. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), he was first elected in 2001 ...

(born 1972), American politician *

Heinrich Schiff Heinrich Schiff (; 18 November 1951 – 23 December 2016) was an Austrian cellist and conductor. Early life Heinrich Schiff was born on 18 November 1951 in Gmunden, Austria. His parents, Helga (née Riemann) and Helmut Schiff, were composers. H ...

(1951–2016), Austrian cellist *

Hugo Schiff Hugo (Ugo) Schiff (26 April 1834 – 8 September 1915) was an Italian naturalized chemist. The son of a Jewish businessman and brother of the physiologist Moritz Schiff, Hugo Schiff was German by nationality. He discovered Schiff bases and o ...

(1834–1915), German chemist who discovered Schiff base and Schiff test *

Irwin Schiff Irwin Allen Schiff (; February 23, 1928 – October 16, 2015) was an American libertarian and tax resistance advocate known for writing and promoting literature in which he argued that the way in which the income tax in the United States is enfo ...

(1928–2015), American tax protester *

Jacob Schiff Jacob Henry Schiff (born Jakob Heinrich Schiff; January 10, 1847 – September 25, 1920) was a German-born American banker, businessman, and philanthropist. He helped finance the expansion of American railroads and the Japanese military efforts a ...

(1847–1920), German-born American banker *

Jeffrey Schiff Jeffrey Schiff is an artist working in Brooklyn, New York. He currently teaches at Wesleyan University. Selected exhibitions *2003, Wesleyan University, Olin Memorial Library, ''The Library Project'' *2000, Bose Pacia Modern, NY, ''Boundlessly Vari ...

, American artist * John M. Schiff (1904–1987), American banker and leader of the Boy Scouts of America *

Karenna Gore Schiff Karenna Aitcheson Gore (born August 6, 1973) is an American author, lawyer, and climate activist. She is the eldest daughter of former U.S. vice president Al Gore and Tipper Gore and the sister of Kristin Gore, Sarah Gore Maiani, and Albert Gore ...

(born 1973), American author and journalist * Leonard I. Schiff (1915–1971), American physicist * Lonny Schiff (born 1929), American artist *

Moritz Schiff Moritz Schiff (28 January 1823, Frankfurt – 6 October 1896, Geneva) was a German Physiology, physiologist and the elder brother of the chemist Hugo Schiff (1834-1915), particularly known for his staining technique. He made major contributions to ...

(1823–1896), German biologist * Mortimer L. Schiff (1877–1931), American banker and leader of the Boy Scouts of America * Nadine Schiff, Canadian film producer and writer * Naftali Schiff, British rabbi *

Naomi Schiff Naomi Schiff-Dedieu (born 18 May 1994) is a Rwandan and Belgians, Belgian List of female racing drivers, racing driver and television presenter. She was born in Belgium, to a Belgian father and Rwandan mother, grew up in South Africa, and now li ...

(born 1994), Rwandan-Belgian racing driver * Nathan Schiff (born 1963), American filmmaker *

Otto Schiff Otto Schiff (26 April 1892 – 9 July 1978) was a Dutch fencer. He competed in the team foil event at the 1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the IX Olympiad (), was an international multi-sport event ...

(1892–1978), Dutch fencer * Otto Schiff (humanitarian) (1875–1952), philanthropist, British Hero of the Holocaust *

Paul Schiff Paul Schiff is an American film producer. Early life and education Schiff was raised in Bethesda, Maryland, one of three sons of Charlotte, a television and publishing executive, and Edward Schiff, a real estate lawyer. His brothers are actor Ri ...

, American film producer * Pearl Schiff (1916–2005), American author *

Peter Schiff Peter David Schiff (; born March 23, 1963; nicknamed "Dr. Doom") is an American stockbroker, financial commentator, and radio personality. He co-founded Echelon Wealth Partners in Canada (formerly Euro Pacific Canada). He is involved in other fin ...

(born 1963), American stock broker, financial analyst, and author *

Richard Schiff Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Toby Ziegler on ''The West Wing'', a role for which he received an Emmy Award. Schiff made his television directorial debut with ''The West Wing'', directing an ...

(born 1955), American actor * Robert Schiff (1854–1940), Italian chemist *

Robin Schiff Robin Schiff is an American screenwriter and producer, best known for the film '' Romy and Michele's High School Reunion'' starring Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino. Schiff was a member of the comedy troupe The Groundlings. She hosts an interview seri ...

, American writer and producer * Sol Schiff (1917–2012), American table tennis player *

Stacy Schiff Stacy Madeleine Schiff (born October 26, 1961) is an American essayist. Her biography of Véra Nabokov won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in biography. Schiff has also written biographies of French aviator and author of '' The Little Prince'', Antoine ...

(born 1961), American writer *

Stephen Schiff {{Infobox person , name = Stephen Schiff , image = Stephen Schiff at the Peabody Awards 2019.jpg , image_size = 140 , alt = , caption = Schiff at the Peabody Awards 2019 , birth_na ...

, American writer *

Steven Schiff Steven Harvey Schiff (March 18, 1947 – March 25, 1998) was an American politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the first district of New Mexico from 1989 until his death in 1998. Schiff was ...

(1947–1998), American politician * Sydney Schiff (Stephen Hudson) (1868-1944), British translator and novelist * Tevele Schiff (died 1791), British rabbi *

Ze'ev Schiff Ze'ev Schiff (‎; 1 July 1932 – 19 June 2007) was an Israeli journalist and military correspondent for ''Haaretz''. Schiff moved to Mandatory Palestine with his family in 1935. He studied Middle Eastern affairs and military history at Tel Avi ...

(1932–2007), Israeli journalist

Fictional characters

* Adam Schiff (''Law & Order''), a character in the ''Law & Order'' franchise *

The Schiff ''The'' is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the ...

, a species of characters in the anime series ''Blood+''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schiff German-language surnames Surnames of Jewish origin Kohenitic surnames Yiddish-language surnames ro:Vas

People

Fictional characters

See also

References