Surname Jefferis - Meaning and Origin
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Jefferis: What does the surname Jefferis mean?
The surname Jefferis is of Welsh origin and is derived from a personal name. The name is mainly associated with countries like England and Wales. The name Jefferis is a derivative of the personal name Jeffrey, which in turn originated from Germanic elements. The name Jeffrey came from the old Germanic elements “gawja,” meaning "territory", "region," and “frid,” which means "peace." Hence, the surname Jefferis may be interpreted as meaning “peaceful territory” or “region of peace.” It is also believed that this last name is patronymic, meaning it is often originated from the first name of a father. As with many ancient surnames, the exact origins may be somewhat obscure due to the passage of time and the evolution of language and namesyntax over centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisJefferis: Where does the name Jefferis come from?
The last name Jefferis has its origins in medieval England and is derived from the personal name Geoffrey. It is a patronymic name, essentially meaning "son of Geoffrey." The name Geoffrey comes from a Germanic name, Godafrid, meaning "peace of god." The name saw significant use after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.
Early records of the name Jefferis can be found in various forms in England during the Middle Ages. While the name is relatively rare today, it remains most common in England, specifically in the regions where it first appeared. The name can also be found in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, though less frequently.
Beyond Britain, the name Jefferis spread around the world through British colonization. As a result, it can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, amongst other countries. Despite this, the name is still not widespread and tends to be relatively unique wherever it is found.
Variations of the surname Jefferis
The surname Jefferis is of English origin and is derived from the personal name Jeffrey. It emerged from areas in Cheshire and North Wales. There are several spelling variants of the surname which have evolved over time as English spelling rules became standardized. They include Jeffaries, Jeffries, Jeffers, Jefferies, Gefferis, Jefferess, Geofferys, Geffries, and Jeffres.
Such variations resulted from lack of literacy or misinterpretation when the surname was originally recorded, often leading to the same person's name being spelled differently even within a single document. Further differences arise due to regional dialects where the pronunciation of the name affected its spelling.
All these surname variations can be considered branches of the same family as they often represent the same lineage and would share a common ancestor. Similarly, the surnames Jephson, Jefferson, Jevons, and even Jaffray can be linked to Jefferis, as they are all derivatives of the given name Jeffrey.
It is important to note that surname variant spellings can largely depend on the country and its respective language where the name is being used. Therefore, one might come across different versions of the surname in places where English is not the first language.
Famous people with the name Jefferis
- Charli Jefferis: Australian world champion swimmer
- Will Jefferis: associate professor of English at Stanford University
- Ben Jefferis: British actor and writer
- Henry Jefferis: English cricketer
- Jean Jefferis: Australian singer and songwriter
- Sam Jefferis: American photographer
- Vivian Jefferis: English nutritionist
- Keith Jefferis: English musician and composer
- Adam Jefferis: American basketball player
- Peter Jefferis: British former professional footballer
- Dave Jefferis: American baseball coach
- Nick Jefferis: Australian football coach
- Sally Jefferis: British language therapist
- Chris Jefferis: British film director
- Anne Jefferis: British artist