Surname Saffer - Meaning and Origin
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Saffer: What does the surname Saffer mean?
The last name Saffer is of Jewish origin and derived from the Hebrew word "Tsafrir," which means "victory." It has evolved from a range of spellings such as Safer, Saffer, Safir, Saffir, and others.
The surname Saffer is also associated with the tribe of Judah. As a matter of fact, the full name given to children of the Saffer family is always preceded by a prefix of the word 'HaKohain'- meaning 'the priest.'
The family is said to have had descendents in Spain, Tunisia, Syria, and Iraq. It is also thought that the family had made their way to Europe via Spain.
The surname is an uncommon one, but its descendants are widely dispersed across the world. Those who bear the name can be found in countries such as the United States, France, Italy, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Saffer is a name which is full of historical and religious significance, representing a rich cultural heritage. The people who bear the name are strong and proud, and do their best to uphold the values of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisSaffer: Where does the name Saffer come from?
The last name Saffer is most commonly seen today in the United States and Canada. It is also seen in various parts of Europe, primarily in Germany, France, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname with root origins in Bavaria, Germany. It was likely derived from the German word for a kind of worker, 'sappeur,' from the French, meaning one who works with a spade or shovel. In Israel, it is sometimes spelled with two Fs, Safer, and is associated with the Sephardic Jews.
In the United States, the Saffer family is concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey. It was among the first Jewish families to settle in the colonies after the 1654 arrival of twenty-three Portuguese Jews in New Amsterdam. By 1850, many Saffers had moved further west, to California or the Midwest, most notably to St. Louis and Chicago.
The Saffer family has been very successful in the United States, with high representation among prominent professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and academics. It is also notable that the Saffer family has produced some significant business leaders, such as the four Saffer brothers who launched American Greetings Corporation and the late Arthur Saffer, who was a prominent real estate magnate in Cleveland, Ohio.
Variations of the surname Saffer
The surname Saffer is a common Jewish surname whose roots are in the Middle East. It is derived from the Hebrew word ‘sapir’, meaning ‘precious stone’. This surname is also found in several other cultures, with a variety of spellings and variants.
In some Jewish traditions, the surname may be spelled as ‘Saffer’ or ‘Saffir’, while some prefer the Sephardic spelling of ‘Sapir’. In the Arabic culture, the surname is often spelled as ‘Safir’, ‘Safier’, or ‘Saphir’.
The surname is found in several countries, with a variety of surnames derived from it. In Iran, it is known as ‘Saffarzade’, in Syria as ‘Saffur’ and ‘Safar’, in Turkey as ‘Saphir’, in Morocco as ‘Safdar’, in Egypt as ‘Safri’, in Algeria as ‘Saffir’, in Tunisia as ‘Safari’, in India as ‘Sapre’, and in the United States as ‘Safer’.
Other spellings, surnames, and variants derived from the surname Saffer include Sachar, Sicari, Zafir, Sapar, Safirta, Safirdin, Sofiri, Saferian, Sepahdar, Sapardi, Safedar, and Saferdin.
Famous people with the name Saffer
- Matthew Saffer, Canadian actor and playwright
- Eileen Saffer, American actress
- Larry Saffer, American film director, producer and screenwriter
- Jared Saffer, American actor
- Meira Saffer, Israeli singer
- Robin Saffer, American actress
- John Saffer, American professional wrestler
- Stephen Saffer, British businessman
- Michael Saffer, American film director
- Rita Saffer, Spanish flutist
- Debra Saffer, Award-winning American editor
- Joyce Saffer, Canadian artist
- Russ Saffer, American businessman
- Naomi Saffer, American television actor
- Wendy Saffer, American playwright and theater director
- Natalie Saffer, American professional poker player
- Melissa Saffer, American television personality
- Felicia Saffer, Canadian clarinetist
- Jan Saffer, American artist
- Kim Saffer, Australian author