Surname Zirfaß - Meaning and Origin

Zirfaß: What does the surname Zirfaß mean?

The German surname Zirfaß can trace its origins to the Middle Ages. The literal translation of the name is ‘barrel maker’, likely referring to an ancestor of the family who was a craftsman in that trade. The name may also carry a slightly different meaning as ‘zirb’ is archaic German for ‘hollow trunk’ or ‘cask’.

Common surnames often originate from the occupation of a family’s ancestors. This is the case with Zirfaß, which is believed to have been adopted as a surname when hereditary surnames began to take precedence over patronymic naming convention in the Middle Ages. The surname likely indicated the person’s profession or their trade and was indicative of a sense of pride in that work.

The families bearing the Zirfaß surname have a long history that can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where they were most commonly found in Germany. Today, the surname is spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

The Zirfaß surname carries with it a respect for the family craftsmanship, knowledge and pride of those who bear it. The name is truly a window into the past, carrying with it the story of the family’s history and craftsmanship that has been passed down for generations.

Zirfaß: Where does the name Zirfaß come from?

The last name Zirfaß is quite a rare name today, and is much more common in Germany than anywhere else. It likely comes from a region in what is now modern-day Germany. It appears to have originated from the Palatinate region, an area between Saarland and Bavaria. Zirfaß is a German patronymic surname, derived from a male ancestor’s Christian name, usually Zirfaz.

It is unclear how or when the name came to be used, however, it is thought to have been used as far back as the 13th century, during the era of the Holy Roman Empire. However, the vast majority of people with this surname today live in Germany, with some in the United States, Canada, and other countries. The majority of people with the last name Zirfaß live in the states of Bavaria and Hesse, followed by Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Berlin.

People with the last name Zirfaß are most likely to be descended from the same family line, although the full spread of the name throughout the world is unknown. It is likely that the surname Zirfaß originated with a single ancestor and spread through the descendants of that person, although it is impossible to know the exact family tree. Today, it remains a relatively rare name, although those who have it still form a close knit community.

Variations of the surname Zirfaß

The surname Zirfaß has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term “zir knopf” which means “a round knob”. In Germany, Zirfaß is one of the many common variations of the surname, with spellings such as Zirfas, Zirfuss and Zierfass. It can also be found as Zierfaß, which is a variant commonly found in Austria.

In the United States, some immigrants to the US from Germany spelled the surname with a “C” instead of the “Z” often seen in German-based surnames. Thus, the German-American equivalent of Zirfaß is Cirfass.

In France, some French immigrants to the US changed their surname to Zirfosse, Zirfeux, or Zirforce. France-based spellings of the same surname include Zirfossé, Zirfeuille, and Zirfoux.

In England, some immigrants to the UK from Germany spelled their surnames Zirfus or Zirfoos. In Scotland, some versions of the surname include Zirkfuss and Zierfuss.

Various other changes to the spelling of the surname also exist. In Switzerland, you may find spellings such as Zirffuss, Zirfuss, Zirgefass, Zirgfass and Zirgfassen. In Poland, Djerfiks is a variation of the surname, and in Lithuania, Jyrfeksas is a variant of the name.

Overall, the surname Zirfaß is present in many different spellings and variants across Europe and the Americas. It is an old surname in various countries, and is likely to keep changing and evolving in spelling over the coming years.

Famous people with the name Zirfaß

• Bert Zirfaß, German author
• Ernst Zirfaß, German geographer and explorer
• Rüdiger Zirfaß, German politician
• Christian-Dietrich Zirfaß, German theater actor
• Jan Zirfaß, German alpine skier
• Paula Zirfaß, German modern pentathlete
• Armin Zirfaß, German chief navigator
• Hermann-Josef Zirfaß, German politician
• Rudolf Zirfaß, German theatre director
• Wolfgang Zirfaß, German pastor

Other surnames

Zirfas