Surname Colfar - Meaning and Origin
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Colfar: What does the surname Colfar mean?
The last name Colfar is believed to have originated in Scotland and Ireland. It is a topographical name, meaning a person who lived near a cliff, ravine, or hillside. In Scotland, the name may come from the Gaelic word 'caulder', meaning rocky or rugged. In Ireland, it may be derived from the Gaelic word 'caladh', meaning 'stony place'.
The surname Colfar may have been given to someone who moved from one location to another frequently, taking their name with them. This could have been as a result of a career in the military, or even just travelling for various reasons. It could also have been given to someone who lived at a place called Colfar.
The Colfar surname is fairly uncommon, but there are still a few people with the name. It is likely a fairly recent change in surname, with the original spelling being something like Coulther, Colthar, Coulter, or Colfer.
The name Colfar means someone who lived near a rocky or rugged place, and is most likely a fairly recent change in surname. Its origin is believed to be Scotland and Ireland, and although relatively uncommon today, there are still some people with the name.
Order DNA origin analysisColfar: Where does the name Colfar come from?
The last name Colfar is most common today in Northeastern Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. According to data from Forebears, a genealogy research and analysis service, the surname Colfar is most commonly found in Norway, where it ranks 811th out of 5,290 possible family names. It is also fairly common in Sweden, where it ranks 2,616th, and in Denmark, where it ranks 1,529th.
In the United States, the last name Colfar is relatively uncommon. According to the United States Census Bureau, the name is found in fewer than 100 households. People with the last name Colfar are likely to have either Scandinavian or German ancestry.
Outside of Northern Europe, the last name Colfar is uncommon. In the United Kingdom, for example, Colfar is not among the top 100 most common surnames, and it is even less common in countries such as Mexico, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India. The name is also rare in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central America.
Variations of the surname Colfar
The Colfar surname has several variants, spellings, and associated surnames. Colfar comes from the Olde French given name Collard which was derived from the Latin word collum meaning ‘neck’. The surname is typically found in England, where it is most commonly spelled as Colfer or Colfear. Other variations of the surname include Calfer, Calfare, Colfare, Colferd, Colfeild, Collferd, Collfor, Collfare, Coulfore, Coulfer, and Coulfare.
The associated surnames for Colfar are Kolfar, Colver, Cowalfare, Coulbyer, and Cufflow. These associated surnames most likely derived from Colfar, although some of them may have been corrupted in different localities. Kolfar ‘Kol-far’ is the most common associated surname, and is believed to have been derived from the Olde French given name, Collard. Cowalfare, Coulbyer, and Cufflow are believed to have derived from other given names that trace their origin back to the Latin collum.
Colfar and its variants are quite rare in comparison to other surnames. The surname is mostly found in the UK, where it is believed to have originated in the medieval period. However, there are people with the Colfar surname who reside in other countries, such as Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Colfar
- Jeff Colfar: Canadian actor best known for portraying Parker Ogilvie in the NBC television series Hanging In
- Hal Colfars: British entrepreneur and investor who has been described as a "serial internet entrepreneur"
- Sara Colfer: American television writer who has written for Grey’s Anatomy and co-created the television series Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce
- J. Colfers: Award-winning designer and author behind the book The Color Revolution.
- Max Colfair: American actor best known for his role in the Netflix series Stranger Things
- Chris Colfars: Canadian actor who has appeared in Eureka, and The Right Kind of Wrong
- Eric Colfers: Irish composer and producer best known for producing the music for the popular video game series The Elder Scrolls
- John Colfars: Powerful retired military leader whose main focus is raising awareness for the modern war veterans
- Jonathan Colfers: British actor and director best known for his work in numerous stage productions in both the West End and the Edinburgh fringe
- Mark Colfers: American football player who plays for the Chicago Bears