Surname Fyfe - Meaning and Origin

Fyfe: What does the surname Fyfe mean?

The last name Fyfe is of Scottish origin. It is derived from a territorial name meaning “the flat area or the level place.” There is some variation in the spelling such as Fayffe, Phife, and Fifie.

The origin of the Fyfe surname dates back almost a thousand years. It was originally applied to a region in Scotland known as Fyfe. The name was used for the family that lived in the area, identifying them as being from this region.

In the late Middle Ages, the Fyfe family of Fife, Scotland, held a great deal of power. They were a prominent family of land owners and held important positions in military and government service. The family also had a status of arms that was awarded by the King.

Throughout the centuries, those who bore the Fyfe name spread out all over the world, sometimes adopting related spellings of the name. Today, the Fyfe family is found in many countries, including the United States, as many people with Fyfe ancestry have relocated there.

The Fyfe surname, with its variations, is a proud one with a long history of service and distinction in Scotland and abroad.

Fyfe: Where does the name Fyfe come from?

The last name Fyfe is especially common in Scotland. A survey conducted in 1881 indicated that Fyfe was the 60th most common surname in Scotland and the 522nd most common surname in the United Kingdom. While it is still quite common in Scotland, it also appears in other parts of the world including the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

In the United States, the last name Fyfe is most common in the state of California, followed by New York, Texas, Florida, Arizona and Illinois. It is estimated that there are roughly 5,400 people in the United States with the last name Fyfe.

In Canada, Fyfe is most common in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. It is estimated that there are approximately 3,900 people with the Fyfe last name living in Canada.

In New Zealand, Fyfe is most commonly found in the North Island. Statistics New Zealand estimates there to be around 4,400 people with the Fyfe surname living in the country.

In Australia, Fyfe is most common in the states of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. According to the Australian Electoral Commission there are roughly 4,000 people with the Fyfe surname living in Australia.

Overall it is clear that the last name Fyfe is still quite common in Scotland but it has also spread to other parts of the world including the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Variations of the surname Fyfe

The surname Fyfe is of Scottish origin, originating from a place called Fyvie. The Fyfe spelling is most commonly used, however there are several variations and spellings, including: Fyffe, Fyvie, Fife, Phyfe, Five, McFief and McFyfe.

The variants of Fyfe all tend to be spelt slightly differently but have the same meaning. For example, Fyffe has the double 'f' at the end of the name, Fyvie drops the last 'e' from Fyfe, and Fife is the phonetic spelling of Fyfe, with one less 'F'. Similarly, Five and McFief have one less 'f' than Fyfe, and McFyfe is the same as Fyfe but with the inclusion of 'Mc' at the start of the name - this is an Irish and Scottish prefix that signifies 'son of'.

The surname Fyfe has several known variations in spelling, all of which have the same origin. These variations are often used to differentiate between different branches of the same family. It is not uncommon for people who have the same last name but a different variant of the spelling to be related, even though the spelling appears different.

Famous people with the name Fyfe

• Paul Fyfe: Agent to numerous Hollywood stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Patricia Arquette and director Peter Care.
• Carrie Fyfe: Renowned Broadway actress most recently seen in the musical Rock of Ages playing the role of Justice.
• Cori Fyfe: Award-winning synth-pop singer who released her critically acclaimed debut album 'Urban Variations' in 2017.
• David Fyfe: World-renowned chef and restaurateur, known for his signature mac n' cheese recipe.
• Gavin Fyfe: Scottish international footballer who signed with VVV Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2019.
• Hamilton Fyfe: British concentration camp survivor and anti-fascist spokesperson who publicly criticised the Nazi regime in the 1930s.
• John Fyfe: Hollywood director who achieved mainstream success in 2005 with The Longest Yard remake.
• Mandy Fyfe: Award-winning Australian soap actress best known for her role as Amelia Grant in Neighbours.
• Mike Fyfe: Famous Hollywood cinematographer who won an Oscar for Best Cinematography for his work on Titanic.
• Robert Fyfe: Renowned Scottish character actor who appeared as the stern Professor Higgins in the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.

Other surnames

Fyffe