Surname Blofeld - Meaning and Origin

Blofeld: What does the surname Blofeld mean?

The last name Blofeld is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is associated with a location, specifically a place where flowers grow. Derived from the Old English words "bloma" (flower) and "feld" (field), it can be loosely interpreted as "blooming field". The surname is habitational and was probably used to identify people who lived in or near such a location - a field of flowers.

Additionally, Blofeld is widely recognized as the surname of a fictional character, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, one of James Bond's most iconic adversaries in Ian Fleming's spy novels and their film adaptations. Interestingly, Ian Fleming reportedly named this character after his schoolmate, Thomas Blofeld, whose father was the cricket commentator Henry Blofeld. The character's name does not carry any additional meaning in the context of the series.

Despite its association with the Bond villain, the surname Blofeld remains an uncommon name and does not have any sinister connotations in and of itself.

Blofeld: Where does the name Blofeld come from?

The surname Blofeld is of English origin. It can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Norfolk, England. The name is considered to be locational and is derived from a place called "Blofield", a village and civil parish in the Brundall ward of Broadland district of Norfolk—which dates back to 1086 medieval times where its original spelling was "Blafelda". The name translates to ‘the open land of Bla’, from an Old English personal name + feld ‘open ground’.

Today, the name Blofeld is not very common. It’s mainly found in the United Kingdom but there are bearers of the name in other parts of the world as well, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that have seen British emigration. Despite its appearance in popular culture as the name of a villain in the James Bond series, Blofeld remains an uncommon surname in the global context.

Variations of the surname Blofeld

The surname Blofeld is a rare Anglo-Saxon name believed to have originated either from Blufeld or Blowfield, areas in the county of Norfolk, England. Variations in spellings can be due to phonetic translation throughout ages, regional accents, and translation to other languages.

Alternative spellings of this surname may include Blafield, Blowfield, Blowfeld, Blofield, Blufield, Blufeld, and possibly Bluefield.

Although predominantly associated as an English surname, Blofeld may have different forms in other languages. For example, in Germanic or Scandinavian languages it might add an additional 't' to become Blofeldt. Despite these potential variants, the surname Blofeld is quite unique and variations are less common compared to other surnames.

As for surnames of the same origin, it might correspond to those associated with geographical or topographic features such as field, ford, heath, hill or pastures, given the 'feld' or 'field' component in the name.

It's important to note that these are speculations, as surnames have complex historical origins which can intermingle between cultures, regions, and languages. They can also change widely across generations due to reasons like emigration and anglicization.

Famous people with the name Blofeld

• Ernst Stavro Blofeld: Although he's a fictional character, Blofeld is certainly famous. He's a super-villain from the James Bond series, created by Ian Fleming. He's been played by multiple actors in various films, including Donald Pleasence, Max von Sydow, and Christoph Waltz.
• Henry Blofeld: Henry Blofeld, often known as "Blowers" in the cricketing world, is a famous English sports journalist and broadcaster. He is particularly known for his work as a cricket commentator for Test Match Special on BBC Radio for over forty years.
• John Blofeld: John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld was a notable British writer on Asian thought and religion, especially Taoism and Chinese Buddhism. He translated several religious texts and is known for his popularizations of Eastern concepts in the West.
• Thomas Blofeld: He is a well-known British businessman and owner of the theme park, Bewilderwood, in Norwich, England. He is also a member of the prominent Blofeld family.
• Sarah Blofeld: An American voice actress best known for her role in the video game Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. These are the most notable individuals with the last name Blofeld, which includes a mix of fiction and real-life personalities from various professional backgrounds.

Other surnames

Blofeild