Surname Alfs - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Alfs: What does the surname Alfs mean?
The surname Alfs is of German origin, derived from the personal name Alf. The name Alf comes from the Old German name Alfihar, which is a combination of two elements: 'Alf' meaning elf, a supernatural being in Germanic mythology, and 'heri', meaning army or warrior. It was a common practice to name children this way, believing it would provide them with protection. Therefore, the surname Alfs can be interpreted as 'descendants or family of Alf', signifying 'elf army' or 'elf warrior'. Like many surnames, it originally served to identify people by their given name, and it was first recorded in the Rhineland area. However, it's important to note that surnames' meanings can differ based on geographical origins and historical context. Interpretations should also take into account variations and evolutions in spelling and pronunciation.
Order DNA origin analysisAlfs: Where does the name Alfs come from?
The last name Alfs is mainly common in Germanic speaking countries in Europe. In Germany, Alfs is the 77th most popular surname, predominantly found in the northern part of the country. In Belgium, where it is spelled as Alf, Alf is the 15th most common surname and is very widespread throughout the country. In Switzerland, Alfs is the 99th most common surname, with a majority of bearers living in the cantons of Zurich and Basel-Land.
The Dutch cognate, Alfs, is the 30th most common surname in the Netherlands and it is widely found throughout the country, most notably in the province of Gelderland. Similarly, the Scandinavian cognate, Alfs, is very common in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, with Alfs ranked as the 88th, 40th and 28th most common surname respectively.
In America, Alfs is not a particularly common surname, but it does have some presence in parts of the mid-west, particularly in Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. Overall, Alfs/Alf is a relatively common surname in Northern and Western Europe and has a small presence in America.
Variations of the surname Alfs
The surname Alfs (also spelled as Alphs, Alfes, Alfse, Alffse, and Alf) is of German origin. It was first found in areas of the northern Rhineland (Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover region, and in some areas of North Germany). The family branch was first documented in the 13th century in the region of Brandenburg, and its surname links back to the noble class of the same name. Within the area of Brandenburg, the surname was divided into distinct family lines, resulting in the variants of Alphs, Alfes, Alfse, Alffse, and Alf.
The name Alfs itself appears to be derived from the Old German word "Alphoß", which translates to “noble court”. The variants of the surname originate from the original spelling of the name and later changed in spelling for either semantic reasons or to differentiate between branches of the same family. The origins of the surname could also have been derived from the name Albrecht (derived from the Germanic words alf, meaning "elf,” and berht, meaning “shining”).
Surnames associated with Alfs include Alfason, Alfazel, Alfensen, Alfsdotter, Alfshoff, Alfson, Alfstad, Alfstatter, Alftan, and Alftheim. The form of Almac could also be a variant, derived from the former Germanic god of the same name.
Overall, the surname Alfs is of German-Nordic origin and has several other variants and related surnames. These variants and related surnames are all derived from the original spelling of the name or to denote familial relationships.
Famous people with the name Alfs
- Steve Alfs: American politician and former member of the Nebraska Legislature
- Jonathan Alfs: American actor, best known for his role in the short film "Behind the Curtain"
- Christina Alfs: Danish fashion designer
- Stephan Alfs: German soccer player
- Fabian Alfs: German athlete and six-time participant in the European Athletics Championships
- Laura Alfs: American actress, founded the global theatre company The Network
- Thomas Alfs: Danish painter and sculptor
- Brigitte Alfs: German-born figure skater and coach
- Kurt Alfs: Australian pianist, composer, and conductor
- Franz Alfs: German sculptor and porcelain artist
- Robert Alfs: Swiss-American sculptor
- Jürgen Alfs: German-born actor, director, and theater arts teacher
- David Alfs: American former college basketball coach
- Lori Alfs: American business executive
- Geert Alfs: German-born composer
- Erich Alfs: German Olympic shooter