Surname Colfer - Meaning and Origin
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Colfer: What does the surname Colfer mean?
The last name Colfer is of Irish origin. The surname is derived from the Gaelic word ‘colbhaire’ which translates to ‘cooper’. A cooper in medieval times was a craftsman who made and repaired wooden vessels, including barrels and casks. It is believed that the name Colfer originated as a descriptive nickname to distinguish a barrel-maker from other individuals with similar names.
The Colfers are mainly found in the Irish counties of Tipperary and Mayo. The earliest recorded Colfer ancestor was named David Colfer, who lived in Tipperary in 1659. His family was among the first settlers of Tipperary following the colonization of Ireland by British forces.
The Colfers were heavily involved in the Irish Revolution of 1916, as well as in the subsequent struggle for independence. One of the most famous members of the Colfer family is Eoin Colfer, the Irish author of the beloved 'Artemis Fowl' novel series.
Colfer is a name that honors its deep Irish heritage and stands as a reminder of courage and resilience. To this day, the Colfer family continues to be an integral part of the Irish community. The name represents a history of determination and loyalty, as well as an unwavering commitment to upholding Irish values and customs.
Order DNA origin analysisColfer: Where does the name Colfer come from?
The last name Colfer is a fairly common Irish surname. It is known to have some strong roots in County Cork, although various occurrences of the name have occurred in other parts of Ireland as well. A migration of the Colfer family to America took place around the mid-1800s and today can be found throughout the country. Common places of residence for the Colfer family include New England states such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut as well as states further west like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Colfers can also be found in some parts of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with Ancestry.com estimating the surname is represented in more than fifty countries. Today, the Colfer family name can also be found in different forms, such as Colfer, Colver, and Kilfoy. It is believed to be a variant of the names Colman and Cormac, suggesting an association with Christianity and other religious traditions. With so much global distribution, it is becoming more difficult to identify just how many people carry the name, but it remains widely recognizable around the world.
Variations of the surname Colfer
The surname Colfer is a fairly common one originating in Ireland. The most common variants of Colfer include: Caulfield, Colfers, Coulfer, Cowlfelt, O’Caufield, O’Caulfield and O’Colfer. These names can be found in Ireland and the UK.
The Colfer surname can also be found in its plural form, Colfers, on many Irish death records. This variant has also been mentioned as the anglicised version of the Gaelic name ‘O Colma’ or ‘Ó Colmain,’ which translates as ‘son of the dove.’
There are also other variants of this surname from other Gaelic languages such as ‘Ó Comhdhàin’ (which translates to 'son of the hound') and ‘Mac Pháil’ (which translates to 'son of the fool').
Another variant of the Colfer surname that can be found in Scotland is ‘Coulfield’. This name was found to be the anglicised version of the Gaelic spelling for ‘Mac Colm’, which translates as ‘son of Colm.’
The spelling variations of the Colfer/Coulfer surname can sometimes be confusing. It is important to research and take the time to look for different variants in order to get an accurate picture of the history and origin of the name.
Famous people with the name Colfer
- Chris Colfer: Chris Colfer is an American actor, singer, and author. He is best known for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the Fox musical series Glee, for which he received a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He was also the winner of a People’s Choice Award and a Kids Choice Award.
- Eoin Colfer: Eoin Colfer is an Irish writer best known for being the author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels. He has also written other children’s books, including the play-related stories in the Hyperion trilogy, the warm-up novel Airman, Half Moon Investigations, and The Wish List, as well as books for older readers.
- Pat Colfer: Pat Colfer is an American Olympic gold medalist. She won the gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney for the US Women’s Field Hockey Team. She has also held a coaching position at Indiana University for their team.
- Will Colfer: Will Colfer is an American actor best known for his roles in films such as The Professional, Warren, and Currency. He has also had several musical roles on television shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Wire.
- Vince Colfer: Vince Colfer is an American actor best known for his roles in the soap operas Days of Our Lives and General Hospital. He is also a stage and voice actor.