Surname Sefried - Meaning and Origin

Sefried: What does the surname Sefried mean?

The surname Sefried is a German name which indicates that its original bearers were from Germany. It is a locational name derived from the word "seefried" which means sea-peace or boat-peace. This was most likely a reference to a region near the sea or to those who lived on a river port near the sea or ocean.

In German, “Sefried” is also a given name which means peacemaker. In some cases, those bearing the Sefried surname are believed to be descendants of the Peacemaker lord who was a minor lord in medieval Europe.

The Sefried surname is also said to be related to "safe riddance” which means to escape harm. This could refer to a family or group that were able to flee to safety from an area of conflict.

Other possible meanings include "peaceful person" or "peaceful guardian”, referring to someone who enjoyed keeping the peace and safeguarding it.

The Sefried surname is an interesting one that still holds the meaning of peace, which could have been a reference to the original bearer's homeland, occupation, or personal characteristics. In any case, this surname is a strong reminder of the importance of peace and safety.

Sefried: Where does the name Sefried come from?

The last name Sefried is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is unclear how far back this surname dates, however, records from late 19th century and early 20th century list the most common home of the last name Sefried as Bavaria. In 2020, Sefried is still predominantly located in Germany and Austria, however, the name can also be seen in other countries with a strong German presence. In the United States, for example, this family name is seen in a handful of records as early as the late 1800s and is most likely directly associated to immigrants from Germany.

In the United Kingdom, the surname has also been distributed amongst members of the German diaspora. Other countries with frequency of the name Sefried are Canada, the Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium, and Switzerland. The population density is highest in Bavaria, followed by other states of Germany such as Baden-Wurttemberg.

Overall, the last name Sefried appears to be a German family name with roots in Bavaria, and areas with populations of ethnic Germans. It is spread amongst regions of Europe and across the world in places where individuals with German origins have settled.

Variations of the surname Sefried

The surname Sefried is of German or Jewish origin and is derived from the word saphir, which means "sapphire" in German. Variants of the surname include Safried, Safri, Siefri, Syfri, Zefry, Zeifri, and Zefri.

Safried or Safri is a variant of Sefried found mainly in Latvia. It is also present in Israel. In its most archaic form, it takes the form of safir, or "sapphire" in Hebrew.

The German spelling Siefri is also common and is sometimes written as Sefri. It is derived from the Middle High German word sefri, roughly translating to "having the color of sapphires".

The Austrian-Bavarian forms Syfri and Zefry are also derivatives of the original surname. It is thought that both of these variants are derived from the Middle German sefrich, meaning "resembling a sapphire".

The most common variant in Israel is Zeifri, which is a transliteration of the original German spelling. It is also sometimes written as Zefry. The Czech equivalent is Zefri and is often found among Jewish emigrants.

Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Sefried are Safried, Safri, Siefri, Syfri, Zefry, Zeifri, Zefri, and Zefri.

Famous people with the name Sefried

• Kristen Stewart: The American actress is best known for her role as Bella Swan in the Twilight franchise.
• Athena Sefried: Often known as the “Real First Lady of Style,” Athena Sefried is an acclaimed plus size fashion model, entrepreneur and advocate.
• Cara Sefried: Cara is an American actress best known for roles in comedy films and TV.
• Jon Sefried: An American distance runner who has worked with many running clubs, including the Nike Oregon Project and the University of Oklahoma.
• Rob Sefried: Rob was a Canadian athlete who participated in the 1972 Summer Olympics as a swimmer.
• Mike Sefried: A former American competitive eater who held world records in Nathan's hot dog eating competitions.
• Jim Sefried: An American entrepreneur and inventor, best known as one of the early innovators of the gasoline-powered golf cart.
• Marc Sefried: An Austrian politician and former state secretary for the Ministry of Social Affairs.
• Don Sefried: An American film director and producer with credits including Seinfeld, Supernatural and Grey's Anatomy.
• Liz Sefried: An American writer and editor who has worked for The New York Times and The Huffington Post.

Other surnames

Sefrin