Surname Senf - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Senf: What does the surname Senf mean?
The last name Senf is of German origin, and is said to have come from the Middle High German word "senf" which means mustard.
The mustard plant was, and still is, an important part of German culture, as it was an essential crop to many local farmers during the Middle Ages. Mustard was eaten in many different forms as food or seasoning, or as a means of making other crops last longer. In addition to its importance in the fields, mustard was also seen as a symbol of luck and fertility, and so the surname Senf could be said to indicate an association with luck and abundance.
The Senf surname could also refer to a place of origin. Senf was a common way to designate places with similar sounding names which featured the word "senf" such as Senfberg, Senf-Oberland Sandhof, etc. This type of place name could also indicate that somebody from that location (with the same last name) may have used the mustard plants of that area to some purpose (as some kind of trading or medicine).
Finally, the last name Senf can also be found all around the world, due to its German origins. Many of the original families with the name first spread around Europe before heading overseas, and so the name has been found in many different places ever since.
Overall, the last name Senf could refer to luck and abundance, or to a particular place of origin, or simply to having a German background.
Order DNA origin analysisSenf: Where does the name Senf come from?
The last name Senf is most commonly found in Germany. This can be seen by looking at denonym databases, which list surnames and their prevalence. Although the name has spread to other European countries, it is more commonly encountered in Germany.
When looking at the distribution of Senf around Germany, it can be seen that it is more prominent in the Northwest of the country, particularly in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia. This is due to the area’s large population and the historical German settlement patterns. Most of the other places where the name is recorded are cities or former settlement regions of Germany.
The spread of the last name beyond Germany has been via emigration from the country, either to other places in Europe or further afield. As such, other countries where Senf is witnessed include Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Today, the last name Senf is still most often associated with Germany, and it has been seen to have retained its prevalence in the country a century after its original introduction.
Variations of the surname Senf
The surname Senf is of German origin. It derives from the Middle High German word "senf" which means "mustard". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:
Senf - This is the original spelling and is also used in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.
Sennf, Sennfe, Sennff, Senffer - These are variations in spelling of the original surname in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland.
Zemf, Zemff, Zemffe - Variations of the original spelling in Germany and Czech Republic.
DeSenf, DeSenff, DeSenffe, DeSenffer, DeSenffel - Variations of the original surname in the Netherlands.
Senfel, Senfell, Senffell - Variations of the original surname in Germany and Austria.
Senvelt, Senveld, Senvelde, Senveldt - Variations of the original surname in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Senflor - A variation of the original surname in Belgium.
Sanfr, Sanf, Sanff - Variations of the original surname in Europe and the United States.
Sannf, Sanf, Sanfe - Variations of the original surname in Germany and the United States.
Senflo, Senfolo - Variations of the original surname in the United States.
Sinnf, Sinnff, Sinnffe - Variations of the original surname in Germany and Austria.
The surname Senf is also found in other countries, including England, Scotland, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. In some cases the spelling might be anglicised, with the last letter being replaced by ‘t’ or ‘th’.
Famous people with the name Senf
- Carolin Senf, German botanist
- Christiane Senf, German lawyer
- Harro Senf, German philosopher
- Lars Senf, German newsreader
- Christine Senff, German cultural mediator
- Matthias Senf, German librarian
- Matteo Senf, Italian sculptor
- Matthias Senff, a Swiss photographer
- Thomas Senf, German record producer
- Vera Senf, guest professor of modern history at the University of Duisburg-Essen
- Fred Senf, Dutch cartoonist
- Franziska Senf, a German composer of classical music
- Hans Senf, a German physicist
- Louise Senf, a Dutch fashion designer
- Marcia Senf, an American model and actress
- Christian Senf, a German physicist
- Arnold Senf, a German painter
- Boris Senf, a German philosopher
- Cecilie Senf, a Danish television presenter.
- Cristina Senf, a German musician.