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Surname Pelgrift - Meaning and Origin

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Pelgrift: What does the surname Pelgrift mean?

The last name Pelgrift is derived from the Old German words pelte – plunder – and greif – grabber. Its literal translation is 'plunderer', suggesting its bearer may have been a thief, pirate, or robber in some capacity.

In the Middle Ages, members of the Pelgrift family were known to have migrated from Germany, settling in Eastern England. History records show members of the family earned their living as wayfarers and peddlers by trade, traveling far and wide to trade goods and services.

Throughout the centuries, the surname took on many forms in different countries and regions. In some areas of England, Pelgrift was spelled Peltriff, and in Scotland, the name was spelled Peltgreave. In North America, various branches of the family transformed the name to Pelgrift, Pelgrift, Pelgriff, Pelgraph, and Peltryff.

The name Pelgrift has been associated with individuals who embraced life with courage. They embodied the spirit of adventure, risk, and courage – the risk-takers, the dreamers. Even today, with a millennia of diverse ancestry and evolution, the old saying rings true: “You can take the Pelgrift out of the adventurer, but you can’t take the adventurer out of the Pelgrift.”

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Pelgrift: Where does the name Pelgrift come from?

The last name Pelgrift is most commonly found in the Netherlands. Pelgrift is a Dutch locational surname, indicating that its bearers originally hailed from a place known as Pelgrift, although it is unclear exactly where this place is located. Since the Netherlands is a small country, Dutch surnames are often regionally specific, and Pelgrift is no different.

The Pelgrift family is first known to have resided in the Province of Zeeland in southwestern Netherlands, and records of the family can be traced back to as early as the 12th century. Today, the surname is still found mostly in Zeeland and in adjacent provinces, especially the nearby provinces of South Holland, North Brabant, and Utrecht. Rarely, it is also found in areas outside the Netherlands, mostly in countries with historical Dutch connections, such as Belgium, Suriname, South Africa, and the United States.

In modern times, the Pelgrift family has spread to various parts of the world, and its members can be found in various occupations, ranging from politics and academia to the military and the arts. Regardless of where they are, Pelgrifts are proud of their Dutch heritage and continue to honor their family history.

Variations of the surname Pelgrift

The surname Pelgrift is a Dutch surname that is derived from the words ‘pelle’, which means axe, and ‘graft’, which means path or road. The initial foundation of the surname is linked to the occupation of a woodsman or forester who cleared paths in the forest with an axe.

Variants of the surname Pelgrift include Pelgrif, Pelgrave, Pelgrift, Pelgraff, Pellegraaf, and Pelgriff. The most common spellings of the surname can also include Pelgrift, Pelgrave, Pelgraff, Pelgrif, Pellegraaf, and Pelgriff.

Surnames of the same origin as Pelgrift include Peliper, Pelgrimer, Pelgrime, Pelgrim, Pelgrin, Pelger, Pelgera, Pelgur, and Pelgraf. These surnames are commonly found throughout the Dutch-speaking world.

The surname Pelgrift and its variants and other surnames of the same origin have spread throughout Europe, to countries including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and parts of the United States. Many of the variations of this surname have become Anglicized over time, and are pronounced differently depending on the location and geographic area. For example, in Germany the surname is typically pronounced as “pel-gref” and in the Netherlands the surname is typically pronounced as “pelg-rift”.

Famous people with the name Pelgrift

  • Jeff Pelgrift, American film and television actor.
  • Robert Pelgrift, founder of Pelgrift Development Corporation.
  • Roni Pelgrift, actress and singer.
  • Paul Pelgrift, American football player.
  • Gary Pelgrift, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pelgrift Realty.
  • Arthur Pelgrift, engineer and inventor.
  • Michael Pelgrift, actor, writer and director.
  • Mark Pelgrift, American landscape photographer.
  • Lawrence Pelgrift, American journalist and novelist.
  • Richard Pelgrift, philanthropist and business executive.

Other surnames

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