Surname Seyffert - Meaning and Origin

Seyffert: What does the surname Seyffert mean?

Seyffert is a surname of Swiss-German origins. Derived from the word Ziffer, which means "figure," the name denotes a person who worked with numbers, likely a mathematical or financial profession. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but it is believed to have derived from a town called Siffert located in the area of Switzerland now known as Zurich.

In other areas, the Seyffert surname derived as a variation of the common German surname "Ziffer." Indeed, both variations are found in records as early as the 1500s in the same area.

The surname most-commonly appears in records as Seyffert or Ziffer, and there are many records of this name in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States, suggesting that it likely migrated with emigrants who moved to the Americas. In the United States, Seyffert is most-commonly found among German families in the rural states throughout the Midwest, as well as in the Northeastern states.

Overall, Seyffert is an old Swiss-German surname. The name may suggest an occupation involving numbers or figures, likely a mathematical or financial profession, and it is most-commonly found among families in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States.

Seyffert: Where does the name Seyffert come from?

The last name Seyffert is most commonly found today in South Africa, particularly in the Limpopo province. It is believed that the Seyffert surname has Germanic roots, and the first bearer of the name may have emigrated to the south African region in the 19th century.

Today, the Seyffert family is one of the most prominent and notable in South Africa, known for its talented, entrepreneurial, and resourceful nature. They are widely respected for their unwavering commitment to helping local communities thrive, and are known for their philanthropic endeavors.

The family is divided into several branches, and the majority of Seyfferts can be found in the cities of Pietersburg and Pretoria. The Seyfferts are also well represented in Johannesburg and as far north as the Kruger National Park.

Outside of South Africa, the Seyffert surname can also be found in the United Kingdom, although it is much less prominent. London in particular is home to a large number of Seyfferts, although they are not as visible or well-known as the family in South Africa.

Overall, the Seyffert last name is most popular and most heavily concentrated in South Africa, where it is held in high regard and where the majority of the Seyffert family call home.

Variations of the surname Seyffert

The surname Seyffert has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

In Germany, the main forms of the surname are “Seyffert”, “Seeffert” or “Seeffert” as the main variants, along with “Seifert” and “Seiffert”. In the United States, Seyffert is also sometimes spelled as “Syferd”, “Sifferd”, “Siefert”, “Sciffert”, “Sieffert”, “Sifford”, “Sauffert”, “Siffert”, and “Ziefert”.

Seyffert often, although not always, is considered to be a foreign spelling of the surname Seifert, which is the German form of the English surname Seivert or Sivert. Seifert is the most common spelling of the Seyffert surname. Seifert now means either “iron man” or “smith”, a consequence of the people with this surname often having worked as blacksmiths or smelters of iron. Other spellings and variations of Seifert are Siefert, Sievers, Severy, Seiferth, Seivers, Siebert and Seiffert.

The spelling “Seyffert” sometimes appears without the ‘y’, forming “Seffert”. In some cases, a Seifert ancestor might have added the ‘y’ to the surname in order to differentiate him or her from other Seifert or Seyffert families. It’s also worth noting that different branches of the same family line may have different versions of their surname due to errors made in recording the original spellings and pronunciations of foreign surnames.

Famous people with the name Seyffert

• David Seyffert: Composer and multi-instrumentalist most known for his film score works.
• Robert Seyffert: South African artist and sculptor who exhibits in galleries and fairs in Europe and USA.
• Godfrey Seyffert: South African sculptor who specializes in serpentine marble and bronze sculptures.
• Johannes Seyffert: German theologian and historian who was active in the period of the Reformation.
• Dudley Seyffert: South African businessman, philanthropist, and former politician.
• Omar Seyffert: Brazilian psychiatrist and anthropologist.
• Alfons Seyffert: 19th-century German theologian and orientalist.
• Michael Seyffert: Irish-born American theology professor.
• Jules Seyffert– Swiss-born French scholar and historian.
• Betsy Seyffert: American actress, singer, and dancer.

Other surnames

Seyfferth