Surname Scaife - Meaning and Origin
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Scaife: What does the surname Scaife mean?
The last name "Scaife" is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "sceaga," which means "copse," a small group of trees. This name was often given to individuals who lived near or worked in a copse. It is categorized as topographic, a type of surname that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. So, many with the surname Scaife may have had a familial or occupational link to such areas. Versions of the name have different spellings, including Skaife and Skaith, primarily found in Northern England, particularly Yorkshire. It is worth noting that family names were not strictly regulated until the introduction of personal taxation in the Middle Ages, causing multiple variations over time. The exact meaning can vary especially if the name has traveled or has been adopted by non-English speakers.
Order DNA origin analysisScaife: Where does the name Scaife come from?
The last name Scaife is most common in the United Kingdom; specifically in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire and West Derbyshire. It is also present in parts of Scotland.
The name originates from Old English, and is believed to originate from the phrase 'scaf,' which means 'hollow.' It was first used as a nickname for someone who lived in a hollow place, or at the end of a lane or valley.
Originally, the name was found mainly in the North of England, most likely due to the large amount of hollows, valleys and lanes in that area. Over the centuries, however, the Scaife name has spread in popularity to other areas of England, Scotland, America and further afield.
The name is widely seen today, mostly in the form of surname; although it can also be used as a given name in some cases. There are a number of notable people who are descended from the Scaife line, including the late English actor Brian Blessed, American business magnate Richard Mellon Scaife, and the founder of the Newhampton Arts Centre, Diana Scaife.
Variations of the surname Scaife
The surname Scaife is of English origin and is derived from the old English words ‘scafe’ and ‘scaf’, meaning ‘sheath’ or ‘enclosure’. Variations and spellings of this surname include Skaife, Scafe, Skaif, Skeaf, Schafe, Skeaff, Schaffe, Skeaffe, Schaff, Skeaff, Schaffel, Skeaffel, Schaffell, Skeaffell, Skayf, Skeayf, Skeayff, Skaiff, Skeaiff, Skaif, Skayfe, Skeayfe, Skeaife, Skeayff, Skeoife and Skeoyfe.
[input: CST: Scaife: 200]
Surnames of the same origin as Scaife may include Skeaff, Skeaffel, Skeaffe, Skeaffell, Skeayfe, Skeayff, Skeaife, Skeoife and Skeoyfe. Variant spellings are Skaife, Scafe, Skaif, Skeaf, Schafe, Schaff, Schaffel, Schaffell, Skayf, Skeayff, Skaiff, Skaif, and Skeayfe. Due to the popularity or prevalence of the surname over time, many families have evolved their spellings over the years, which is why there are many variations and spellings.
Famous people with the name Scaife
- Richard M. Scaife: billionaire and philanthropist
- H. John Heinz III: former U.S. Senator and member of the famous ketchup-making family
- Richard Mellon Scaife: former president of the Allegheny Foundation
- Cordelia Scaife May: environmentalist and philanthropist
- Sarah Scaife: heir to the Mellon fortune
- Malcolm McLean Scaife: businessman and former Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Caroline Scaife: founder of the Common Ground Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes public engagement in natural resource management
- Thomas Mellon Scaife: civil engineer, wealthy industrialist, and founder of the Cornell Store
- John Scaife: British architect and writer
- Jonathan Scaife: American actor, writer and director