Surname Calfe - Meaning and Origin

Calfe: What does the surname Calfe mean?

The surname Calfe is an old English Patronymic that goes back centuries in time and signifies a person from the region of Calder, located in West Yorkshire, England. The surname is derived from the Old English words cald and fer meaning "cold stream," signifying the area around the rivers and streams that make up the Calder valley.

The Calfes were a prominent family in the Calder Valley, and it was common for them to move around the area, as they owned and operated some of the land in the area. They also settled in other areas, including Scotland and Wales.

Historically, the Calfes were a hard-working and industrious family, with many of them working as farmers, shepherds, miners, and laborers. As time passed, the family spread out into other paths of work, such as merchants, tradesman, and artisans.

Today, the Calfes can still be found in the Calder Valley as well as scattered across the United Kingdom and the United States, though the family is much more diverse in its professions than ever before. From teachers, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs to military officers, the Calfe surname continues to thrive in the modern era.

Calfe: Where does the name Calfe come from?

The last name Calfe is most commonly found in the European countries of Italy and Portugal. It is also found in countries such as Brazil, France, and Germany. The surname is believed to have originated in Italy, and is related to the Italian term ‘calfare’ which refers to the tanning of hides. The origin of Calfe may also have come from an Italianized version of the Medieval French name ‘Calef’ which means ‘cold’.

In recent times, the surname Calfe is sometimes seen spelled as ‘Kalfe’ or ‘Kaalfe’. In Italy, the name is most commonly found in the regions of Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Lombardy. In Portugal, the Calfe name is sometimes spelled as ‘Calfi’ or ‘Calfo’ and is found most prominently in the regions of Lisbon and Porto.

In the United States, the surname Calfe is sometimes encountered, but is much less commonly found than in Europe. There are a few small clusters of the Calfe name in the south-eastern states such as Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In Canada, the Calfe name is seen in high numbers in the province of Quebec.

Overall, the surname Calfe is most predominantly found in the countries of Italy and Portugal. It is also commonly found in other parts of Europe, as well as parts of the United States, Canada, and Brazil.

Variations of the surname Calfe

The surname Calfe has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname include Calef, Califf, Caulfe, Calve, Calvette, and Calvert, while other similar surnames include Calvagh, Calver, Calvar, and Calvert. Common spellings of the surname include Calfe, Calf, and Caulfe.

In some cases, the surname has been derived from the Old English rad “calf”, while in other cases it may be an old French spelling of the name “Caille” or the Germanic “Kalb”. In the United States, the surname may also have been derived from the Dutch word “calve” meaning “farmer”; the English “cale”, meaning “shepherd”; and the French “caillé,” meaning “pebble” used to describe a person from a rocky or stony region.

The surname Calfe is found in records in England as early as the 13th century. It is also present in Scotland throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, usually as Calve or Calver. In the United States, it is found in records in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.

It is thought that all of the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin originated from the same family or clan, but it is difficult to confirm this without tracing the surname back to its earliest known ancestor. It is, however, not uncommon for surnames to evolve over time as individuals moved away and adopted local customs. Therefore, it is quite possible that there are other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that have not yet been discovered.

Famous people with the name Calfe

• Chris Caflisch: mathematical physicist
• Jack Calfee: former American basketball player
• Adam Calfee: Bassist for the musical group Reel Big Fish
• Sir Isaac Calfe: British diplomat of the Elizabethan era
• Madeleine Calfe: American television actress
• Lorraine Calfe: American sculptor, writer, and photographer
• Mary Calfe: 19th-century American education pioneer
• Mark Calfee: American television comedy writer
• Mark Calfee: former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Augustus Calfe: former English cricketer
• Melissa Calfee: American actress
• Paul Calfe: Irish born British actor
• Jonathan Calfe: Australian rugby league player
• Robert Calfe: former American football player

Other surnames

CalferCalford