Surname Seiferle - Meaning and Origin
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Seiferle: What does the surname Seiferle mean?
The last name Seiferle is an occupational surname of German origin; it literally means “knife maker”. The word “Seifer” – from which “Seiferle” is derived – is derived from the Middle High German word “seiffer”, meaning knife. This indicates that one’s ancestors likely practiced the craft of knife-making as a profession.
In the Middle Ages, the making of knives and other edged tools was a skill passed down through generations, and those of the same craft would often congregate in the same areas. It’s believed that those bearing the Seiferle name are descendants of a group of knife-makers living in Germany, who had formed a close-knit guild to protect the practice of their art. As such, many of them adopted the “Seiferle” name as an indication of their trade.
As knife makers, those of the Seiferle name have a long heritage and history, and likely share the values of hard work, craftsmanship, and tenacity. Those of the name would also have an innate appreciation for precision and accuracy, as making knives requires extreme attention to detail.
The surname Seiferle is an indication of a long legacy and a proud tradition of knifemaking. It’s a longstanding reminder of an era in which craftsmanship was given the utmost reverence and value, and still serves as the symbol of a culture that values quality and precision.
Order DNA origin analysisSeiferle: Where does the name Seiferle come from?
The last name Seiferle is most commonly associated with the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota in the United States. Evidence of this last name can be found in a variety of early records from these two regions. Wisconsin is home to the largest concentration of Seiferle ancestors, followed by Minnesota and Iowa. In some cases, the name Seiferle has been subject to various spellings including Seifert, Seifertle, Seifridt, and Seiffert.
Seiferle ancestors can be traced back to a settlement area known as “Württemberg” in southwest Germany. Württemberg was historically home to many immigrants and a large number of religious immigrants, including Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed and Jewish. The Seiferle family traces its roots to this area in Germany and first settled in Wisconsin around the 1840s.
More recently, the Seiferle surname can be found scattered throughout the United States. In 2020, the name Seiferle reached its highest point in popularity in New York state. This population, however, is small and is primarily concentrated throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Given the popularity of Seiferle in Wisconsin and Minnesota, it can be speculated that the majority of Seiferle descendants in the United States can trace their roots back to this original group of immigrants. In addition, the Seiferle surname still remains fairly rare throughout the country, suggesting that many Seiferles today are the descendants of this same group from Württemberg.
Variations of the surname Seiferle
The surname Seiferle is most commonly seen with the spelling Seifert or Seiferts. However, the name is derived from a Middle High German term for a type of baron or squire, “senferd”, meaning one who serves. Therefore, the surname Seiferle can take many different forms, including Sieferle, Sieffert, Zieferle, Sefferle, Seifierle, Zeifert, Zeiffert, Zeiferts, Sieffers, Sieferts, Zieffers and many more.
In some cases, there are sizable families who have adopted different spellings. For instance, the Seifert family of Baden-Württemberg, Germany has changed the spelling of the name to Siefert. Others have changed the name to Zeifert, such as the Zeifert family of Saxony, Germany. Furthermore, the name can take an "s" on the end of it in some cases, such as Seiferts and Zieferles.
In some cases, the surname Seiferle has also been Anglicized and adopted as a first name in North America. Usually the change has been to the spelling Seifer or Seyfer.
Overall, there are many variants of the surname Seiferle, depending on the region it is found in. Some of the more common variations are Seifert, Seiferts, Sieffert, Zieferle, Sefferle, Seifierle, Zeifert, Zeiffert, Zeiferts, Sieffers, Sieferts, Zieffers, Siefert, Seifer and Seyfer.
Famous people with the name Seiferle
- Thomas Seiferle: German-born American marine biologist, aquaculture scientist, explorer, and undergraduate and graduate professor of oceanography.
- John E. Seiferle: American jurist, who served as a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
- Lytie O. Seiferle: American painter and printmaker, who was a member of the American Abstract Artists.
- E. V. Seiferle: American geographer and professor of geography at the University of Minnesota.
- Elise Seiferle: American poet and non-fiction writer, known for her memoir, Under the Borderline.
- William Seiferle: American World War II sailor and Navy Cross recipient.
- Costa Seiferle: Italian professional alpine skier, active between 1928 and 1934.
- Emil Seiferle: German soldier and recipient of the Iron Cross, who served during World War I.
- Jakob Seiferle: German actor, best known for his role in the 1962 Aztec classic The Magnificent One.
- Walter Seiferle: German submariner, who served on the U-boat U-543 during World War II.