Surname Safr - Meaning and Origin
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Safr: What does the surname Safr mean?
The last name Safr is believed to have originated in Central and Eastern Europe and is most commonly associated with Jewish families. Its literal translation from Hebrew is "pure," or "blameless," and was likely used to distinguish Jewish individuals or families from those who had converted to Christianity.
The name can also be a combination of two separate words; the German “saphir,” meaning “sapphire,” an allusion to Heaven, and “fride” which can mean "peace" or “righteousness.” Together, the two words suggest “righteous peace from Heaven,” and it has long been believed the name was first used to describe a Jewish family who had escaped persecution in a foreign land.
The name is also used by some Arabic-speaking families, often written as Safir. In this case, the name derives from the Arabic "asfar," the plural of which means “yellow” or “golden.”
Today, Safr is still used by both Jews and those of Arab descent and is often celebrated as an indication of survival and resilience in the face of persecution. It carries the significance of escaping foreign lands, finding peace and strength, and upward mobility as a result of virtuous action.
Order DNA origin analysisSafr: Where does the name Safr come from?
The last name Safr is a Jewish surname originating in the central and eastern European countries, particularly Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Belarus, and Hungary. Today, however, the surname is most commonly found in Israel, indicating the population's Jewish heritage.
In Israel, Safr is a popular surname, as are other surnames reflecting a Central and Eastern European Jewish background. In 2019 the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics listed the Safr surname as the 895th most common family name. The name also appears in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, although in much smaller numbers than in Israel.
The surname is known in Jewish tradition as a form of the Hebrew name “Zephyr,” meaning “gentle breeze.” The shortened form of Zephyr is Zeph, which is the basis of Safr. The Jewish tradition of using Hebrew as part of a family’s name goes back centuries in order for each family to have a unique identity and connection to its heritage.
In conclusion, the surname Safr is most commonly associated with Ashkenazi Jews from Central and Eastern Europe and is especially associated with those who settled in Israel. It is a surname which carries a great deal of weight and pride, harkening back to the days of ancient Israel with its roots in Jewish tradition.
Variations of the surname Safr
The surname Safr is an uncommon Ashkenazi Jewish family name of German origin. It has many variants and spellings, each of which can potentially have separate origins. These variants stem from different interpretations and transcriptions, and as such, some of the variants may not be related with each other.
The most common variants of the surname Safr include Safer, Sofer, Sophar, Soffer, Saffer, Safferzadeh, Zaffar and Zaphr. Some other more obscure variants are Safor, Sofron, Soferstein, Safrak, Szafran, Shafrir and Shafrinski.
It is important to note that many of these surnames can be related to first names, in particular, the first names Asher, Avrohom and Zev.
Given that the surname is of Ashkenazi Jewish, German Origin, some of these variants may also be found in other countries with a strong Germanic presence. For example, the variant Safer may also be found in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe.
The surname might also appear in other forms in other countries. It is possible that in some Spanish-speaking countries, the name could be written as Sáfer, and in some French-speaking countries, it could appear as Saffer.
In addition, the surname may have descended from multiple sources independent of the original German Safr. For example, in the Middle East, the surname may stem from sources in the Turkish language and could appear as Zephyr.
Overall, the surname Safr lends itself to many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Depending on the origin, the name could have strong associations to other countries, first names, and even languages.
Famous people with the name Safr
- Keren Ann Safr: Israeli musician and singer-songwriter
- Jesse Safr: Member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
- Moshe Safr: Israeli actor
- Elad Safr: Israeli basketball player
- Andrey Safronov: Russian ice hockey player
- Dmitry Safronov: Russian cross-country skier
- Dmitry Safronov: Russian professional ice hockey forward
- Yulia Safronova: Russian rhythmic gymnast 9.Victor Safronov: Russian synchronized swimmer
- Aliaksei Safranka: Belarusian basketball player