Surname Buff - Meaning and Origin

Buff: What does the surname Buff mean?

The last name Buff is of French origin. It is thought to have originally derived from the word "bouffi" or "bouffer", meaning to puff out the cheeks and blow. This may have referred to a person's appearance or to a person who played a trumpet-like instrument such as a French horn.

The name is thought to have been introduced to England during the Norman Conquest of 1066, and is believed to have been taken from the Old French word "buffe" which means shield. This is thought to allude to the use of the surname by those who owned or wore a shield and hence had a military bearing.

In modern times, the surname Buff is found in many countries around the world, including the United States of America, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Typically, it is a surname given to a family who originally lived close to a forest, but it is also possible that the family was connected to the production of a type of protective leather gloves or jerkins, known as 'buff'.

In the twentieth century, the surname Buff has been associated with a variety of professions ranging from businessmen, farmers and craftsmen to fashion designers, actors and musicians. Many celebrities have adopted the Buff surname, including Jesse Buff, an American actress, and Will Buff, a British DJ and music producer.

In conclusion, the surname Buff most likely originated from Old French and is thought to allude to someone who worked a trade associated with a shield, or someone with a military bearing. Over the centuries, the name has become associated with a variety of professions around the world.

Buff: Where does the name Buff come from?

The last name Buff is most commonly found in the United States, though there are a few cases found in other countries like France, Italy, and Germany. The name is most heavily concentrated in the state of Ohio, where it is the 23rd most common surname. It is also seen with some frequency in New York, Delaware, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The origin of the name is unknown, but it may be a combination of two French surnames “Lesbuffe” and “Le Buf”. It is possible that both of these were combined over time to create the surname Buff. Another possibility is that the name is derived from the Old German word “bouh”, meaning “he who dwells.”

The Buff surname was originally used as a nickname to describe someone who was brave or strong. It is likely derived from the French “fuf”, which means “furious” or “bold.” Today, the last name Buff is still associated with courage and strength, though it is less often used as a nickname. Instead, it is more frequently used as a surname to denote one’s cultural heritage or to represent multiple generations of a family.

Variations of the surname Buff

The surname Buff is of French origin. It is thought to have been derived from the Old French word "buffe", meaning "strong", or "armour". The name was likely first adopted by a family who possessed particular strength or an affinity for armour.

Variants of the surname Buff include Buffe, Buffet, Buff, Buffey, Buffeau, Buffier, Buffiere, Buffet, Buffon, Bufort, and Buford.

Spelling variations of the surname Buff include Bouff, Bouffe, Boff, Buffet, Buffier, Bouffet, Bouffa, Boufier, Bouffey, Boufer, Bauffet, and Buffie.

Surnames of the same origin as Buff include Beaufort, Bellevue, Bellamy, Boffa, and Bonfort.

The surname Buff is also used as a given name. Famous people with the name include Buff Barnes, an American entrepreneur, and Buff Bagwell, an American professional wrestler.

No matter the country of origin or spelling of Buff, all of these variations of the surname Buff point to a long-standing strength and resilience in the family name.

Famous people with the name Buff

• Allan Buff, a retired Brazilian football goalkeeper
• Bryan Buff, an American actor
• Henry Buff, a New Scientist and Inventor
• Jim Buff, a senior advisor for the Oklahoma Historical Society
• Joy Buff, a Slovak actress
• Juney Buff, a Sierra Leonean retired professional footballer
• Lori Buff, an American soccer player
• Mark Buff, a full professor at the University of Nebraska
• Matt Buff, an American professional wrestler
• Ralph Buff, an American actor
• Reed Buff, an American sculptor
• Rich Buff, an American animal behaviorist
• Ruth Buff, an American folk and blues singer
• Tina Buff, an American feminist writer and professor
• Tommy Buff, an American bassist

Other surnames

Büffel