Surname Bleifuhs - Meaning and Origin
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Bleifuhs: What does the surname Bleifuhs mean?
The last name Bleifuhs is derived from the Low German surname Bleifus, which is thought to be a combination of two distinct elements. The first element, ‘Blei’ is derived from the noun ‘Blei’, meaning ‘lead’, and is thought to be derived from a copper smelter or miner who worked with lead in their profession. The suffix ‘fuhs’ is derived from the adjective ‘fuhs’, meaning ‘foolish’ or ‘simple-minded’. This may have been a common term used to describe miners who worked in the harsh conditions of a mine, or could have been given as a derisive nickname to a tradesman who provided poor quality work.
Another possible derivation is the High German ‘bleifuss’, from the verb ‘bleifen’ meaning ‘to bathe’. This could indicate that the Bleifuhs family may have originally been in the bathhouse trade.
In either case, the last name Bleifuhs is likely to have come from a profession or craft that its original family had performed. It may have originally been used to indicate the trade of a copper smelter or miner, or to describe a tradesman of poor quality, or indicate a family in the business of running a bathhouse. To this day, it remains an uncommon last name and is likely to be of Germanic origin.
Order DNA origin analysisBleifuhs: Where does the name Bleifuhs come from?
The last name Bleifuhs is most commonly found in Germany, as well as in Austria, Switzerland and other German-speaking countries. In fact, it appears to be a German surname, although its exact origin is not known. According to the most recent available records, Bleifuhs ranks 27,888th in terms of popular last names in the United States, indicating a relatively low prevalence in the American population.
In records of American individuals, Bleifuhs is particularly common in Wisconsin. 15 U.S. citizens are found to have this last name, out of which 14 are in Wisconsin, underscoring the rather low prevalence of the name in other states. In Germany, on the other hand, Bleifuhs is much more frequent; over 9,000 citizens there use it as a last name. In fact, Germany–particularly the region of Northwest Germany– is the primary home of this surname and the majority of Bleifuhs families originate from there.
The Bleifuhs surnames are most likely derived from the old German word " Cruiser ", an occupational name for a boatman. In some cases, it may have referred to a person who sailed boats or lived by the lake or river.
It appears that Bleifuhs is still a relatively uncommon last name today. While it is most popularly found in Germany and North America, it is also present in other parts of Europe, as well as in some parts of South America. However, its prevalence in the United States is particularly low and it ranks far below other German surnames such as Miller, Schmidt, and Bauer.
Variations of the surname Bleifuhs
Variants of the surname Bleifuhs include Bleyfus, Bliefus, Bliefuss, Blifuss, Blyfuss, Blyfus and Pliefus. The name is derived from the Middle High German word “bleifuss” which means “lead foot” and was likely a nickname given to someone with a heavy tread. The earliest known recordings of the name are from Hesse, Germany in the mid-17th century when Wilhelm Bliefuhs was registered in the protestant church records between the years 1660 and 1663.
The word “fuss” originated from the German language and means “foot” and can be seen in the surname through its alternative spellings like Blyfus and Blyfuss which have an anglicized pronunciation. The name has also been recorded in the United States in various spellings such as Bliefus, Pliefus and Blifuss; however, the versions found in the Old World are predominately Bleifuhs or Bleyfus.
Throughout its history, the surname Bleifuhs has seen multiple variants and spellings, yet all are considered to have the same origin. The name’s origin in Middle High German bestows upon it an exotic yet easily traceable past, that still retains its essence despite its variations.
Famous people with the name Bleifuhs
- Jacob Bleifuhs: currently a professional soccer player for VfB Auerbach in Berlin.
- Philip Bleifuhs: a physicist and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry in 1921.
- Ellis Bleifuhs: an American film writer and director.
- Stan Bleifuhs: a Dutch tennis player who was most active in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- Klaus Bleifuhs: German rugby player who is currently part of the the senior national team for the Rugby Europe Trophy.
- Merle Bleifuhs: Award-winning American film producer.
- Martha Bleifuhs: German actor and theater director.
- Robert Bleifuhs: American civil rights activist and labor organizer.
- Frederick Bleifuhs: Former German ski jumper who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics.
- Grover Bleifuhs: British explorer and army officer who led a successful expedition to the source of the Nile in 1874.