Surname Seferin - Meaning and Origin
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Seferin: What does the surname Seferin mean?
The last name Seferin is of Slavic origin and is derived from the Latin word sefer which means “book”. It is also associated with the Greek word sefir, a type of tablet dating back to the bronze age. In early Slavic cultures, books and writing were seen as highly important, thus, the name Seferin symbolized one who was highly-educated and literate.
In some eastern European countries, the name Seferin is also used to identify those of Jewish descent, suggesting that it may have been used as a surname by Jews who sought to protect their identity during times of religious persecution.
Today, the last name Seferin can be found in various parts of the world, and many families are still proud of this ancient name. This is due to its long history and its association with books, literacy, education, and the importance of writing for early Slavic people. Those with the last name are proud of their literary roots and its continued relevance today. From keeping stories alive to passing down knowledge, writing is still an important part of many families’ lives. For those with the last name Seferin, they are proud to carry on this tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisSeferin: Where does the name Seferin come from?
The last name Seferin appears in several countries throughout the world. It appears to be particularly common in South America, particularly in Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela and Ecuador. The origin of the name Seferin appears to be from the Jewish Ashkenazi tradition.
The name is thought to be derived from the Hebrew word "sfar", which means "book" or "writing". It may have originated as a nickname for a person who wrote well or managed bookkeeping duties. It is known as an occupational surname, given to someone who worked in an occupation related to books or writing.
The Seferin name can also be found in North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. It is listed as being most common throughout Mexico and its border states. It is amongst the Top 200 most common surnames reported in the United States.
It is likely that modern day Seferin families are descended from Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants who moved to South America in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, and then spread to other parts of the world. Each Seferin family likely has its own unique story and individual historic experiences.
Variations of the surname Seferin
Seferin, or alternatively spelled as Sepherin, is a surname originating from Spain. It is also found in countries such as Syria, Romania, the Netherlands, Russia, France, and the United States.
In Spain, the surname is derived from an old Basque personal name that dates back to the 12th century. The original form of Sepherin was Sepharin, which is a combination of steps, meaning “step”, with harin, meaning “fairy”.
The variant spellings of the name Seferin include Sepherin, Saferin, Safarin, Sepharin, Sapharin, Seffarin, Seffrin, Serfin, Serfinn, Safrin, and Serphin.
In Syria the surname is related to the Arabic term “sāf” meaning “happiness”, while it is thought to have spread to Romania from Spain. Here it is categorized as a Romanian-Jewish surname.
In France, the variant spellings of this surname appear as Sefarin and Sephirin, and are considered to be two separate brands of the same original name. It is believed to have derived from a Galician speaking district based on the Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon regions.
In Russia, the variant spelled Sefarinn is commonly seen, and is derived from the Spanish Sepharin. It is thought that the family was included in the 18th century Belykh movement, which saw Russian Jews migrating to the United States.
Finally, the variant spelling Serfins is commonly seen in the United States, where it is assumed to have been anglicized from Spanish Sepharin.
Overall, the surname Seferin has a range of different spellings and variants, as seen in different countries across Europe and the United States.
Famous people with the name Seferin
- Sloane Seferin: American actress and model
- Elena Seferin: Russian cyclist
- Geanina Seferin: Romanian Paralympic wheelchair racer
- Lubomir Seferin: Former Bulgarian footballer
- Ilhan Seferin: Turkish politician
- Don Seferin: American professional basketball player
- Osman Seferin: Macedonian football midfielder
- Andreea Seferin: Romanian long-distance runner
- Anna Seferin: Romanian long-distance runner
- Karolina Seferin: Serbian table tennis player
- Zlatko Seferin: Croatian athlete
- Ioan Seferin: Romanian football midfielder
- Jelena Seferin: Montenegrin footballer
- Akif Seferin: Turkish Olympic wrestler
- Špak tee-Seferin: Bosnian basketball player
- Pietro Seferin: Italian footballer
- Milos Seferin: Serbian footballer
- Matija Seferin: Slovenian footballer
- Peter Seferin: Austrian ski jumper
- Artjom Seferin: Latvian snowboarder