Surname Jefferys - Meaning and Origin
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Jefferys: What does the surname Jefferys mean?
The surname Jefferys is an English patronymic name. It derives from the personal name Jeffery, which is a Norman French variant of a Germanic given name. This Germanic name is made up of the elements “gauji”, meaning "region or territory", and “frid”, meaning "peace"; hence, the overall meaning is "peaceful territory". In the context of a surname, Jefferys would mean "son of Jeffery". Over the centuries, this surname has had many variants such as Jefferson, Jefferies, and Jeffers. It has been widely used in England and other parts of the UK. It’s important to note that surnames often had different spellings in the medieval time period as they were often written phonetically, explaining the different variations that we see today.
Order DNA origin analysisJefferys: Where does the name Jefferys come from?
The surname Jefferys is of English origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Jeffrey, which itself comes from a Germanic given name. The name is constructed from the elements "gauji", meaning “region” or “territory”, and "frid", meaning "peace". It was brought to England by the Normans in the form Geoffrey during the 11th century and later transformed into various forms, including Jefferys.
Regarding its usage today, it can be found in many English-speaking countries around the globe. However, it's predominantly found in England, and to a lesser extent, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It's also worth noting that although it’s an established surname, it’s not incredibly common compared to some other English surnames. Sideline variants in spelling as per regional accents and dictation of the surname may also exist which can further dilute its concentration. Nonetheless, its historical origin denotes a deep-rooted association with English heritage.
Variations of the surname Jefferys
The surname Jefferys has several different variations and spellings that have the same origin. Some of these include Jeffrey, Jeffries, Geffreys, Jefferies, and Geoffrey.
The surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and was derived from the personal name Jeffrey. The personal name Jeffrey itself came from a Norman French form of a Germanic given name. The elements of the name include 'gēr', which means 'spear', and 'frid' or 'fred', meaning 'peace'.
Due to the regional accents and the illiteracy of the past, names were often registered as how they sounded leading to different spellings of the same name. This ‘sounds-like’ and phonetic confusion has continued well into the 20th century contributing to the surname's many variations.
Jefferys also has a patronymic form, i.e., expressing the relationship between father and son, which is Jefferyson or Jefferson, indicating "son of Jeffery".
Today, all these variants can be found widely spread across the English-speaking world. The name could have also been altered in different countries as the family migrated, adding even more variation to its spellings.
Famous people with the name Jefferys
- Mark Jefferys: British comic writer and presenter
- Jordan Jefferys: Professional Australian rules football player
- Jackson Jefferys: Professional rugby league footballer
- Tracy Jefferys: British Olympic diver
- Dani Jefferys: Award-winning Australian actress
- Matty Jefferys: English professional footballer
- Dwayne Jefferys: Former athlete from Jamaica
- Maddi Jefferys: MTV presenter and vlogger
- Natasha Jefferys: British professional skater
- Louie Jefferys: Professional wrestler from the United Kingdom