Surname Jeffer - Meaning and Origin
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Jeffer: What does the surname Jeffer mean?
The surname Jeffer is of English origin and it appears to be a variant of the name Jeffrey, which itself is derived from the German name Gottfried. The name Gottfried is a combination of two elements: 'god' which means 'peace' and 'frid' which means 'protection'. This name was common among Germanic tribes in the Early Middle Ages and was later brought to England by the Normans.
In the form of Geoffrey (or Jeffrey), it became popular in England during the Middle Ages and was borne by several notable medieval figures, including Geoffrey of Monmouth, a historian, and Geoffrey Chaucer, an author and poet.
As with many surnames, Jeffer could also potentially be a geographical surname, representing someone who came from a place called Jeffer, although there is currently no known location with this name.
As a surname, Jeffer is fairly rare. It's important to note that variations of surnames, like Jeffer, often occurred due to an individual creator’s phonetic spelling, differences in regional dialect, or even translation from other languages.
Order DNA origin analysisJeffer: Where does the name Jeffer come from?
The surname Jeffer is of English origin. Like many surnames, Jeffer comes from an occupational name. It's derived from the personal name ‘Geoffrey’. This name became quite popular after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when many Norman names were introduced into England.
The surname Jeffer is not common, thus it doesn't significantly prevail in any specific country today. However, as it is of English origin, it potentially may be found in countries that have been historically linked to England like the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. This prevalence in these Anglophone countries is, however, relative and not largely significant.
For instance, its prevalence in the United States is less than 0.001%, with less than 100 people bearing it as a last name according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Overall, though it is of English lineage, the surname Jeffer is not abundant in any specific geographic area today.
Variations of the surname Jeffer
The surname Jeffer is not very common and it is difficult to find too many variants or related surnames. However, it might be a derived form or a shortening of a more common name like Jefferson or Jeffers, both of which have similar spelling and phonetics. Jefferson itself is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Jeffrey."
There are other surnames with similar origins to Jeffrey, and since Jefferson and Jeffers could possibly relate to Jeffer, then these surnames could relate too. These include Jeffreys, Jeffries, and Jeffares, all of which originated from Jeffrey.
Meanwhile, variations of the spelling for Jeffrey include Jeffery, Geoffrey, Joffroy, and Godfrey. These names, particularly Geoffrey and Jeffrey, can be made into patronymic names (adding -son at the end) just like Jefferson, creating Geoffson or Jeffson.
It is also possible (but less likely) that Jeffer could derive from variations of Jeffrey that were twisted through regional dialects and generations.
Other possible variants such as Jaffer or Geffer may exist in different cultural or geographic contexts. When tracing the origin or variations of lesser-known surnames, it's often beneficial to consider broader linguistic and historical factors.
Famous people with the name Jeffer
- Jeff Jarrett: an American professional wrestler, promoter and a former co-owner of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
- Bob Jeffrey: a former English footballer who made more than 250 appearances in the Football League.
- Count Jeffer: an American R&B singer from Detroit.
- Alan Jeffrey: an English footballer who retired from the game in 2018.
- Rose Jeffer: an American film actress who rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s.
- Mookie Jeffer: an American Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the late 1980s.
- Lorra Jeffer: an American jazz vocalist who has worked with a number of prominent jazz and pop musicians.
- David Jeffer: an American film and television actor, best known for his role in the 1980s sitcom Webster.
- D. Jeffer: an American DJ and producer who has released several album projects that span across various genres.
- George Jeffer: an American composer of light classical music. He was the composer of the National Commandant's Degree, a ceremony in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War fraternity.