Surname Elfes - Meaning and Origin
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Elfes: What does the surname Elfes mean?
The surname Elfes likely originates from England or Germany, with it being a variant of the surname Elf. The term "elf" originates from old Germanic language, referring to a supernatural being or spirit, often with magical powers, from folklore and mythology. In medieval Germanic-speaking cultures, elves were widely believed in and revered. Over time, surnames derived from words like "elf" could have denoted someone who had a supernatural aura or someone who took part in plays or pageants playing the part of an elf. However, the precise interpretation can vary and could also be related to a place name or occupational name. It is also important to bear in mind that many surnames have evolved and changed over the centuries, and the current spelling may not directly reflect the original meaning. Therefore, requiring extensive genealogical research to pinpoint the exact origin and evolution of the surname Elfes.
Order DNA origin analysisElfes: Where does the name Elfes come from?
The last name Elfes is most commonly found throughout Europe and the United States. In Europe, the Elfes name is most popular in Poland, where it ranks as the 327th most common surname. In Germany, Elfes is the 516th most common surname and in the Netherlands, Elfes is the 931st most common name.
In the United States, the last name Elfes is primarily found in states such as California, New York, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. In California, Elfes is the 4372nd most common surname. In New York, it is the 3118th most popular surname. Massachusetts and Wisconsin are also states with high prevalence of Elfes with the name ranking as the 2440th and 9765th most common names, respectively.
Outside of Europe and the United States, Elfes is relatively uncommon. However, it is also found throughout countries in South America and in parts of Africa, primarily Nigeria. In Brazil, the name is the 10,253rd most common, in Argentina, it is the 12,161st most popular name, and in Nigeria, Elfes is the 10,511th most popular surname.
Wherever the name is found, it is often linked to various regions in Jewish and Germanic cultures. It is thought to be derived from the Hebrew word "El'fas," which means God's Blessing. The name is also seen in reference to fairies, elves, and dwarfs in literature, suggesting a possible connection to mythology.
Variations of the surname Elfes
Elfes is a surname of German and Dutch origin derived from the surname Elff. Other variants and spellings of this surname include Elff, Elf, Elfs, Elfe, Elofs, Elofsen, Elffersen, Elfsen, and Elvesson.
In Germany and Austria, the surname was typically spelled Elff, with the suffix "-en" indicating birth order (e.g. Johannes Elffen). Elsewhere in Europe, such as in the Netherlands, spelling variants included Elfs and Elf, with other variants such as Elvesson found in Scandinavia. Other variants of Elfes include Eloff, Elofs and Elofsen, which were found in the Low Countries (Belgium and the Netherlands).
In the United States, Elfes became one of many variations of the German Elff which migrated and settled in angles of the Northeast, justSouth of the Great Lakes and in Appalachian Mountain regions Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio.
The variant Elffs is a breeding-name from North Rhine-Westphalia and is still to be found mainly in Germany and Austria. In Germany, the name was first found in Lower Saxony in the 17th century.
Elfe, Elffen, Elfes and Elfsen are surnames found mainly in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. They all originally derived from the ancient root of Elf or Elv, meaning an ‘ancient creature’ or ‘genie’.
So while variants of the same spelling may exist in different parts of the world, the surnames of Elfes and Elff can be traced back to the same original surname.
Famous people with the name Elfes
- Krysten Ritter: American actress, model, musician, and author
- Paulette Elfes: French-born sculptor known for her works with constructed mosaics
- Drew Elfman: American singer-songwriter, actor and composer
- Eugene Elfes: Chess Grandmaster from Australia
- Garry Elfes: English-born actor, known for The Edge of Love and Sixty Six
- AngelElfes: Spanish-born model, singer and actress
- Gary Elfes: German-born painter, sculptor, and photographer
- Max Elfes: Canadian journalist, author, and columnist
- August Elfes: Austrian-born philologist and professor
- Eliza Elfes: British-born artist and sculptor