Surname Siefriz - Meaning and Origin
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Siefriz: What does the surname Siefriz mean?
The last name “Siefriz” appears to originate from the Germanic/Austrian/Swiss regions, specifically the area of Alsace-Lorraine. In its original form, the name was spelled “Sieffritz” or “Seifrath”, and variants thereof.
In its original form, the name is derived from the two separate words “Sieben” and “Fritz”, which, when combined, mean “son of seven”. The “seven” likely refers to the fact that the original bearer of the name had seven sons, and thus, the surname was given to pass down to the seventh generation.
Over time, the name has evolved to include the present spelling of “Siefriz”. This is likely the result of phonetic spelling, or a linguistic practice in which a word is transliterated based on its pronunciation rather than its spelling. In this case, the end of the word was softened to be closer in pronunciation to the original phrase.
The Siefriz surname may also come from the Middle High German word “Siefrida”, which means “peaceful ruler” or “royal woman”. This theory is further supported by the fact that the name often appears alongside the surnames “Reineking” (derived from the Germanic word for “royalty”) or “Reinsch” (deriving from the Germanic word for “peace”).
Though the name has existed for centuries and has traveled far from its original Germanic roots, its meaning can still be identified to those who know what to look for. The surname Siefriz, in its many forms, is a reminder of its bearers’ heritage and a sign of respect to those within its lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisSiefriz: Where does the name Siefriz come from?
The last name Siefriz is of German origin and is common today throughout the German-speaking world, especially in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Its earlier variants included Sieferitz, Seifritz, Sieifritz, and Seiphritz. It has also been documented in other places, such as Prussia and the Netherlands.
The name often appears in the records of settlers in America and Canada from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, though not in large numbers. Today, it is still possible to find people with the surname Siefriz living in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries, though these are more likely to be descendants of immigrants.
In Germany, the name is most common in several states, including Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Hesse, with the highest numbers being found in Bavaria. It is also relatively common in Moselle, a region in the south-west of the country.
In Austria, the name is quite popular in the states of Salzburg and Tyrol, though it is also found in other states such as Vienna and Vorarlberg.
Switzerland is the country with the highest concentration of the surname outside of Germany, with the majority of people bearing the surname living in the cantons of Schwyz and Bern in the eastern part of the country.
In Liechtenstein, it is also relatively common, but there are only a few families with the name living in the small country.
Variations of the surname Siefriz
The surname Siefriz has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Siefers, Seyfert, Siefring, Seyfarth, Siefried, Sieferling, Seyfferth, and Syfers.
The first recorded spelling of the surname is seen in historical documents from 1250, appearing in the records of the Palatinate in Germany. The earliest known bearer of the name was Gunther Siefers, who is documented as living in Kirkel, Palatinate during this time.
The family is thought to have derived their surname from the Old German words "sip", meaning arrow, and "friðu", meaning peace. Literally translated, the surname means one who was "at peace with the arrow".
Variations of the name Siefriz have also been found in different countries. For example, in France the surname is spelled as Seyfert or Seyferth, while in Switzerland the surname appears as Sifris.
In the United States, Seyfarth and Syfers are often seen as variants or spellings. Additionally, the name Siefers has evolved to become Siefkes in the Netherlands, Seiffert in Austria, and Sieffert in Poland.
The variants of the surname Siefriz demonstrate how many existing surnames can have a common origin. Over time, surnames can change, alter, or adjust in different countries in response to different cultures and languages.
Famous people with the name Siefriz
- Elizabeth Siefried: American kickboxer and mixed martial artist.
- Max Siefriz: German actor known for his roles in the films Banklady, Beyond the High Mountain, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
- Paul Siefriz: German photographer and cinematographer. He is best known for his photography and film work for the fashion label COS.
- Gary Siefert: American football player who played for the Washington Redskins from 1953-1956.
- Henry Siefrie: Argentine actor, director, photojournalist, and television personality.
- Jean-Philippe Siefriz: French comedian and musician known for playing guitar in the rock band Bang La Decks.
- Richard Siefritz: German politician and member of the German Social Democratic Party.
- Brady Siefritz: American baseball pitcher and former professional from 1995-1998.
- Rebekah J. Siefriz: American professional basketball player.
- Joseph Siefriz: German Olympic fencer who competed in the team foil event at the 1972 Summer Olympics.