Surname Seefrid - Meaning and Origin

Seefrid: What does the surname Seefrid mean?

The last name Seefrid is of German origin and is a locational name derived from a place called Zeifrath, located in western Germany. The first recorded bearer of the name is Jocopus de Zeifrath, who was recorded as living in the year 1370. The name is typically rendered as “Seefrid” and is composed of two elements, ze plus frid; ze meaning “area” and frid meaning “protection, peace”.

Over the centuries, the Seefrid surname has become associated with many notable families. In particular, the Seefrid family of Bavaria is a noble lineage, which is believed to have been founded in the 11th century and has since come to include counts, dukes, princes and even generals of Imperial German forces. Perhaps most well-known, is Johann Georg Seefrid, who was baptised on April 30th 1716 in Zons, and became a military engineer at the age of 18.

Today, the Seefrid name remains deeply entwined with German history and culture. It is a reminder of the people and places that gave birth to it and the generations of Seefrids that have gone before. It is also a testament to the strength, courage and loyalty of a proud and noble family.

Seefrid: Where does the name Seefrid come from?

The surname Seefrid is most commonly found in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. It is a relatively rare name, with only around 600 individuals in Sweden with the surname.

The original meaning of the name Seefrid is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word ‘sefr’, meaning ‘guardian’. This is reflective of the Scandinavian tradition of assigning surnames for various occupations and professions. Historically, the most common version of the surname was Seefridt, but this gradually changed to Seefrid.

Today, people with the surname Seefrid are mainly found in Sweden but can also be found in Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. In other parts of the world, individuals with the surname Seefrid are less common. The Anglo-Saxon countries are especially lacking in individuals with the surname due to the language barriers.

Overall, the surname Seefrid is most commonly found in the Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, where it is much more prevalent due to the naming traditions and the prevalence of the Germanic language in the region. However, individuals with the name are still relatively rare and can also be found in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Seefrid

The surname Seefrid is also spelled or variants as Siefrid, Seefried, Seefert, Siefried, SyFrid and Ziefrid.

The alternate spellings and variants of the surname Seefrid are thought to indicate a foreign origin; likely of Germanic origin. It is derived from a Germanic personal name Sigfrid, composed of the Germanic elements sige, meaning “victory,” and fridu, meaning “peace.”

Other spellings and variants of the surname include SyFrid, SyPhred, Zweifel, Siefkel, Zeeffri, Syfreid and Zeffert. They are all German variations of the surname Seefrid.

Variant surnames of Seefrid include: Ziegeler, Zieve, Ziffer, Siefert, Sichert, Seffert, Zeff, Ziffel, Syphert, Ziaffert, Zyfer, Sieferth, Syfers, Zfert, Zaffir, Ziff, Zieffert, Cifers, Sigwart, Zaffert, Syfret, Zydell, Siever, and Sifort.

All of these spellings and variants likely come from the same ancestral line, as they all are derived from the common ancestor, Sigfrid.

The surname Seefrid may also be linked to various forms of the surname Ziefruit, such as Siefruit, Ziefrisky, Ziefert, Ziefruch, Ziefried, Ziefrisch, Ziefetter, and Ziefrecky. These surnames are of German origin derived from the given name Sigfrid, with the German diminutive ending -mi, meaning “mine.”

It is likely that the numerous variants of the surname Seefrid are a result of folk etymology and subsequent errors in transcription of the name across multiple generations.

Famous people with the name Seefrid

• Robert Seefried: actor known for American Hustle, The Cable Guy, and Jack Reacher.
• Drew Seefried: actor and filmmaker who is populary known for his role as Zack in Disney Channel’s Shake It Up!
• Brooke Seefried: professional soccer player currently playing in the WSL and formerly played for the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League.
• Max Seefried: musician and songwriter who has released several independent albums and has toured with the band The Airborne Toxic Event.
• Steve Seefried: guitarist and vocalist for the rock band The Offspring.
• Robert Seefried: author of several books, including The Tiger and the Shark, The Invention of Wings, and The Labyrinth Monks.
• John Seefried: executive director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, former director of the MOMA in New York City, and chairman of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
• Holly Seefried: nutritional therapist and natural health educator who has appeared in several television and radio shows.
• Richard Seefried: renowned cardiac surgeon and professor of cardiology.
• Dave Seefried: professional surfer, current Senior Men’s World Champion, and multiple time World Cup champion.

Other surnames

Seefried