Surname Delifield - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Delifield: What does the surname Delifield mean?
The last name Delifield is of English origin, derived from Middle English terms meaning “deerefield” or “deere-field”. It is likely that the name originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived in or near an area of land frequented by deer. It is possible that the name could also have evolved from the Old English word “deor” meaning deer.
The name may have been a topographical name for someone who lived near an area of land where deer grazed or hunted, or it could have been applied as a habitational name for someone who lived at a property owned by an individual or family known to have owned deer or kept a deer-park. Alternatively, the name could have denoted someone who worked with deer, such as a deer-keeper or hunter.
The spelling of the name has varied over time, with many variant forms including Delfeild, Dalefield, DeLefield, Dallifield, Delifield, Delphenfield, and Dallopfield. The name is still found in parts of England today, and is thought to have been scattered throughout the country since the 13th century.
Individuals with the surname Delfield have come to settle in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisDelifield: Where does the name Delifield come from?
The last name Delifield is not a very common name today. It typically refers to English ancestry as it comes from the Old English for the words “Deli” or “field” combined together. The surname is most prevalent in England today, with some small clusters found scattered around the U.S. and other English-speaking countries such as Australia and Canada.
In the United States, there are people with the last name Delifield in a few states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, and California. The numbers are very small in each of these states, suggesting that only a handful of people live with this surname in the U.S. In addition, this name is uncommon in other parts of the world.
Delifield is not a particularly common last name, likely due to its limited usage over the years and the infrequent marriage of people with the same surname. Nonetheless, there are still a few people today who possess the surname and can trace their heritage directly back to Old English times.
Variations of the surname Delifield
The surname Delifield is believed to be of French origin, first appearing in early records in Britain and Ireland in the seventeenth century. The Delifield surname has numerous variants in spelling and pronunciation, including Delafield, Delafils, Delafisel, and Delafils. Other variants include Delfeild, Delfeld, and Delefield. Some of these variants appear as surnames in England, Scotland, and Ireland, while others are used in France.
The Delafield spelling is likely the most common spelling of the surname in England, where it is also found as Delafield, Delfeild, Delfield, Delefield, and Delfeld. The variants with the letter “f” are more common in Scotland, while those with “s” are more likely to be found in Ireland and France.
The Delafils spelling is more commonly found in France, as is the Delafisel variant and the Delafils extension. Other branches of the family in France use the surnames Delifil and Delifils. Delifils is also found in Canada and the United States, most likely due to French immigrants who arrived in these countries in the late nineteenth century.
What is shared among all these spellings is that each of them comes from the French root of the surname. The original form of the name coming from France is most likely Delafeuille, derived from the Old French del feuille, meaning “of the leaf.” Delfeiles and Delfeillet are other options as well. Additionally, a Dutch form of the surname is found as Delaville.
Ultimately, all of these spellings of the Delifield surname stem from the same French origin. Each of the variants may differ in spelling and pronunciation, but they are all related and part of the same family history.
Famous people with the name Delifield
- Shirley Delifield: an English actress, best known for roles in A Room with a View and Girlfriends.
- Nick Delifield: an American record producer and songwriter, known for his works with Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera.
- John Delifield: an American theater producer who is known for his productions of Les Miserables, Into the Woods, and A Little Night Music.
- James Delifield: an American basketball player who won an NBA Championship in 2000 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Robert Delifield: an English actor who has starred in various television shows, films, and plays, including The Bill, Torchwood, and The History Boys.
- Georgia Delifield: a British reality television star known for her appearances on Made in Chelsea and Celebs Go Dating.
- David Delifield: a British Paralympic swimmer, winning multiple gold medals at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London.
- Jack Delifield: a British actor, most commonly known for his roles in the Harry Potter films, where he portrayed Professor Remus Lupin.
- Sarah Delifield: an English television presenter, best known for presenting the BBC2 series The Generation Game.
- Emma Delifield: a British sculptor, known for her works in terracotta, bronze, and resin.