Surname Siefermann - Meaning and Origin
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Siefermann: What does the surname Siefermann mean?
The last name Siefermann is derived from an old German term seifar meaning “barley merchant”. Thus, the literal translation of the name is “grain merchant.” The long history of this name dates all the way back to the Middle Ages, when grain was highly sought after as a valuable commodity. The Siefermann family was likely one of the many small grain merchants of that time, buying produce to resell for a higher price.
The first recorded instance of the Siefermann surname is from 1379, in Regensburg Bavaria, when a man by the name of Schifermann was recorded as paying taxes. Over time, the spelling of the name changed, becoming Soeffermann and then Siefermann. This shift in spelling could be attributed to the effects of the dialects that German is spoken in, or to family members’ attempts to set themselves apart with a unique spelling of their name.
The Siefermann name was not as common as others with this occupation such as Mueller or Schmidt. Much of what is known today about the name can be found in records of marriages, baptisms, and burials throughout Germany.
The Siefermann family is likely still in existence today, though very few people with the name are found in the United States. This is due to the emigration of many Europeans after the Second World War. Those in the USA carrying the last name can likely trace their roots back to Germany, though they may now live in a variety of countries. Whether the current Siefermann’s are aware of their predecessors or not, the name is a testament to the hard work of the family from centuries past.
Order DNA origin analysisSiefermann: Where does the name Siefermann come from?
The last name Siefermann is most commonly found in Germany today, primarily in the states of Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg. Records of the name first appeared in Brandenburg following the Migration Period, when Germanic peoples were moving westward into the region. It was primarily used as a locational surname to describe someone from a settlement known as Seiffermann or Sieffermann, which began as a farming village.
Throughout the centuries since, the Siefermann surname began to spread throughout Germany and into neighbouring countries such as Austria and Switzerland, where it is still somewhat common today. Research indicates that it also spread to parts of Holland and other parts of Northern Europe during the Napoleonic Wars and the Franco-Prussian War.
In the United States, the Siefermann surname is less common, with only about 1,000 people reported to be carrying it today. Most Siefermanns who emigrated to America arrived prior to World War II, initially settling in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Minnesota. That said, it is now widespread in the US and can be found in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
Variations of the surname Siefermann
The surname Siefermann is of German origin and denotes “son of the overseeing farmer”. It was a popular name amongst farmers in the 19th century. This surname is also found in the United States, Canada, England, France, Belgium, Switzerland and other countries.
Variant spellings of Siefermann include, Sieferman, Siefermann, Siefermon, Siefman, Seiferman, Seferman, Sefermann, Seifermann, Seifeeran, Seipperman, Seippermann, Sefirman, Seiffermon, Seifnar, Sefrman, Seifarman, Seiframan and Seifowman.
In addition, Sieferman is an alternate form of the surname as it is found in some countries.
Common surnames that are either translations, variants, or of the same origin as Sieferman include Kiefer, Öffer, Kife, Offerman, Offermann, Opfermann, Offermane, Offermanus, Offermanmi, Opferman, Öfferman, Keffer, Käfer, Kafer and Amar.
Different countries may possess other variant spellings or alternative spellings of the same surname. For example, in France, it is known as ‘Seferman’. Similarly, in Germany, there are variations such as ‘Sieffermann’ and ‘Sufermann’. In English, it can also be written as ‘Sifferman’.
Similar surnames that are found in other countries include Siu Wong (in China), Szeferman (in Poland) and Ciferman (in Ukraine).
Overall, there are many variants and spellings of the surname Siefermann, and many of these can also be used interchangeably with related surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Siefermann
- Prince Hubertus Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Carl Löwenstein-Siefermann (1913–1943), the first head of the short-lived Principality of Lippe-Biesterfeld.
- Marlise Siefermann (born 1998), a German actress.
- Bert Siefermann (born 1968), former German cyclist.
- Georg Siefermann (1876–1944), German writer and journalist.
- Christine Siefermann (1911–2003), German physicist.
- Franz Siefermann (born 1952), German swimmer.
- Sylvia Siefermann-Routa (born 1942), German chess player.
- Günter Siefermann (1915–1943), German recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
- Adolf Siefermann (1909–1985), German Nazi politician.
- Johannes Siefermann (1842–1907), German theologian.
- Dieter Siefermann (born 1949), German former rower.
- Petra Siefermann (born 1971), German cyclist.
- Hermann Siefermann (1857–1917), German landscape and genre painter.
- Günther Siefermann (born 1940), Austrian footballer.
- David Siefermann (born 1986), German volleyball player.
- Kaspar Maximilian Siefermann (1790–1863), Prussian diplomat.
- Peter Siefermann (1899–1961), German swimmer.