Surname Deffenbaugh - Meaning and Origin
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Deffenbaugh: What does the surname Deffenbaugh mean?
The last name Deffenbaugh, also commonly spelled Deffenbaugh, is derived from a German surname, deriving from the given name “Deffenbach”. It likely originated from a place name, with the “bach” meaning “stream” in German. It likely refers to a location near or by the stream.
The Deffenbaugh surname is found most prominently in the United States, descending from German immigrants who arrived in the 18th century. It does have additional roots in Austria and Switzerland as well.
In modern times, Deffenbaugh is an uncommonly used surname, with a namesake population of around 3,000 individuals in the United States alone. These Deffenbaughs are scattered all across the country, with most of the name’s population found in Colorado and other Midwestern states.
The Deffenbaugh surname has been documented in various records, ranging from birth, marriage, and census records to various historical and civil documents. The name can also be found in following generations in those documents as well.
All in all, the last name Deffenbaugh means a place by a stream. It traces its roots to German immigrants to the United States centuries ago and has continued to become part of the American fabric through generations of Americans.
Order DNA origin analysisDeffenbaugh: Where does the name Deffenbaugh come from?
The surname Deffenbaugh is not especially common in modern times. It originated in Germany and is a variant of the German surname "Defenbaugh." This surname likely originated as a locational name, derived from the region of Defenbach, which itself was likely derived from a Germanic personal name, "Theofan".
The earliest known appearance of the surname is in the early 18th century in the area of Schleswig-Holstein, a north German region which was formerly Danish and which is now a part of Germany. Initially associated with the Prussian area of Rhineland-Palatinate, the surname is also found in a limited number of other parts of northern and central Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, France, and Austria.
Today the surname remains uncommon, most likely confined to descendants of the original immigrant family. It is likely rare to find multiple families bearing this name in one locale. This was found to be the case during the United States Census of 2000 when data was collected on the distribution of the surname. In that census, Deffenbaugh only appeared 347 times, spread across 33 US states, indicating a relatively small population.
Variations of the surname Deffenbaugh
The Deffenbaugh surname is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the pre-Christian name "Dietfrid" which means "strong peacemaker". Variants and other spellings of Deffenbaugh include: Defenbaugh, Defenbergh, Deffenbaal, Dieffenbach, Dieffenbacher, Deffenberger, Dieffenberger, Diefenbacher, Diffenbaugh, and Difenbach.
Surnames related to Deffenbaugh include Dietrich, Fredericks, Fredrickson, and Frederick. The Dietrich surname is derived from the Old High German personal name "Dietrich", meaning "people's ruler". The Fredericks surname is derived from the given name "Friedrich", meaning "peaceful ruler". The Fredrickson surname is derived from the patronymic name "Friedrichson" which is derived from the given name "Friedrich". Lastly, the Frederick surname is derived from the given name "Friedrick" which is derived from the Old High German word "frithu", meaning "peace".
Overall, the Deffenbaugh surname is of Germanic origin and is also related to many other Germanic surnames like Dietrich, Fredricks, Fredrickson, and Frederick. The variants of Deffenbaugh as well as its related surnames are strong evidence of the family's Germanic roots.
Famous people with the name Deffenbaugh
- Mason Deffenbaugh: Professional ice hockey player in the AHL
- Taylor Deffenbaugh: Professional soccer player for the Portland Thorns FC
- Abigail Deffenbaugh: Grammy-nominated Country singer-songwriter
- Michael Deffenbaugh: Professional baseball player in the Minor League Baseball
- Mark Deffenbaugh: Retired Olympic sprint kayaker
- James Deffenbaugh: Emmy Award-winning television producer
- Robert Deffenbaugh: Professional golf player on the Korn Ferry Tour
- Eliza Deffenbaugh: Broadway actress and singer
- Victoria Deffenbaugh: Lawyer and civil rights advocate
- Peter Deffenbaugh: Professional race car driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series