Lesson plan

Scharf

The surnames Scharf, Schärf, Schaerff, Sharf, as well as similar spellings of these names, usually have their origins in either the German or Irish languages. As a result of emigration from Europe, these surnames are now also common throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. The German variants, which were likely spelled Schärf or Schaerf originally, usually trace their origins to Bavaria, although the surname is now common over all of Germany. Literally meaning "sharp", it is regarded as having originated as a medieval nickname, i.e. it described an attribute of an individual's personality, such as sharp-wittedness. The Yiddish spelling Sharf, as well as the other variants, are found among Ashkenazi Jews. In Ireland, Scharf and related surnames, such as Scariff, were originally found in the south-western counties of Kerry and Limerick. They are now also common in counties Kilkenny and Carlow. In Ireland, there are several different folk etymologies of the surname. One claims that it is indigenous to Ireland, although no Old Irish personal names closely resembling it have been identified. A second theory of the surname's origins holds that it came to Ireland with the Norse-speaking Vikings that invaded and settled in Ireland, becoming known as the Norse Gaels.…

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Article summary

The surnames Scharf, Schärf, Schaerff, Sharf, as well as similar spellings of these names, usually have their origins in either the German or Irish languages. As a result of emigration from Europe, these surnames are now also common throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. The German variants, which were likely spelled Schärf or Schaerf originally, usually trace their origins to Bavaria, although the surname is now common over all of Germany. Literally meaning "sharp", it is regarded as having originated as a medieval nickname, i.e. it described an attribute of an individual's personality, such as sharp-wittedness. The Yiddish spelling Sharf, as well as the other variants, are found among Ashkenazi Jews. In Ireland, Scharf and related surnames, such as Scariff, were originally found in the south-western counties of Kerry and Limerick. They are now also common in counties Kilkenny and Carlow. In Ireland, there are several different folk etymologies of the surname. One claims that it is indigenous to Ireland, although no Old Irish personal names closely resembling it have been identified. A second theory of the surname's origins holds that it came to Ireland with the Norse-speaking Vikings that invaded and settled in Ireland, becoming known as the Norse Gaels.…

Key claims

  1. date of birth: 1890 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of birth: 1953 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  3. date of birth: 1951 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of birth is "1890". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of birth is "1953". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. The record states that the date of birth is "1951". What evidence would count against this claim?
  5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1323593657

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.