Surname Tilfer - Meaning and Origin
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Tilfer: What does the surname Tilfer mean?
The last name Tilfer is of Dutch origin. It is a variant of the name Tilford, meaning "town near the ford". This surname originally referred to someone who came from a place called Tilford.
The first recorded bearer of the Tilfer name was Carel Tilfers of Amsterdam in 1608. He was registered in the tax records of Amsterdam in the year 1648. From then on, the name began to spread throughout the Dutch provinces of Holland and Friesland.
The Tilfer family spread to the United States during the 19th century with immigration from Europe. Today, it is found in the US mostly in the states of Texas, California, and Illinois. Many Tilfer family members use “-er” as a suffix in their last name as a way to retain the Dutch origins of their family.
Tilfer is a surname that reflects a proud Dutch heritage and a desire to maintain ones culture and identity through generations. Through the name, Tilfer family members can trace their Friesland and Holland ancestries and cultivate a sense of belonging to a heritage that reaches far back in history.
Order DNA origin analysisTilfer: Where does the name Tilfer come from?
The last name Tilfer is most commonly found in Austria today. It is believed to originate in the region, although historical records on it remain limited.
The name Tilfer is a patronymic surname derived from the first name Tilf, which is a short form of the Germanic personal name Adalbert. Adalbert is typically thought to have derived from the Old High German elements "adal" (meaning "noble") and "bert" (meaning "bright"). As such, the initial meaning of the Tilfer surname was likely that of a "noble personage".
In modern times, users of the last name Tilfer can be found mostly across Austria, particularly the regions of Wien and Niederösterreich. According to the Historisches Lexikon Bayerns (German historical lexicon), it is also found in citizenries around Upper Bavaria and Middle Franconia. Outside of Austria, the name's use is more limited, with concentrations around Germany, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Tilfer
The surname Tilfer is of German origin and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Tyler, Tilley, Tillie, Tilford, Tillyer, Tillotson, Toller, and Tilemann.
The surname Tyler is an 18th century English variant of Tilfer, based on the occupational name of someone who makes or supplies tiles. It was particularly common in the south of England at the time, and the spelling is derived from the Middle English word ‘tiler’.
Tilley is a common variant of Tilfer, also of English origin. It is derived from the Old English element ‘til’, referring to a person who made or installed tiles. It is also sometimes used interchangeably with Tyler.
Tillie is a Anglo-Saxon variant of Tilfer, derived from the Old High German element ‘tela’, which means roof or tile. It is closely linked to Tyler and Tillotson.
Tilford is an 18th century name, derived from the combination of Till, the Anglo-Saxon word for a disc, and the Old English surnames ford, which refers to a shallow waterway, or a ford.
Tillyer is also an 18th century English variant, derived from the Middle English ‘tiler’. It is likely a phonetic spelling of Tyler.
Tillotson is an English patronymic surname derived from the Old Norse word ‘till’, which means tile or roof, and ‘son’, indicating the son of one who makes tiles or supplies tiles.
Toller is a medieval English nickname for someone who was quiet or gentle, derived from the Old English element ‘tolde’.
Lastly, Tilemann is a German variant of Tilfer, derived from the Middle High German word ‘tilen’, which means to shape or form. This surname is believed to be an occupational name for a tilelayer or bricklayer.
Famous people with the name Tilfer
- Jonathan Tilsner: an American composer, orchestrator and arranger working in the film, television, and live theater industries.
- Idan Tilsner: an Israeli professional basketball player, who plays for the Israeli team Hapoel Holon of the Israel Basketball Premier League.
- Rudolf Tilfer: an Austrian opera singer and castrato.
- Ester Tilsner: a Spanish–Israeli actress best known for her stage roles at the Habima Theatre in Israel.
- Mark Tilfer: an American comic book artist, who has worked for such publishers as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and Image Comics.
- Philo Tilsner: an American professional baseball player who played third base in Major League Baseball for the Buffalo Bisons in the late 19th century.
- Daniel Tilsner: an American film and television director, writer and filmmaker, best known for his work on Weeds (Season 7, 2007) and the feature film The Paperboy (2012).
- Eddie Tilfer: a professional American football player who played in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1907.
- Lotte Tilsner: an Austrian stage and film actress of the 1930s.
- Anna Tilsner: a German Jewish philanthropist and German language author.