Surname Sieffers - Meaning and Origin

Sieffers: What does the surname Sieffers mean?

The last name Sieffers is of German origin, though the precise etymology of the name is unknown. Some sources suggest that it is a variant of the German last name "Siefers," which in turn derives from the German word "sieben" meaning “seven”. As such, the surname could be an occupational name given to someone who worked in occupations related to the number seven, such as a project foreman who employed seven people. It is also possible that it could have derived from the Middle High German word "siffer," which has two possible meanings - either “one who cares” or “one who grieves”.

The Sieffers surname is common throughout Germany and the German diaspora, particularly in the United States. The name is present in some form in almost all fifty U.S. states. The earliest record of the name is found in a 1577 document in the Bavarian state of southern Germany, referencing a woman by the name of Arya Sieffers and her husband Baltzar.

Though the exact origin of the name is uncertain, it is likely that Sieffers is a Germanic name whose bearer likely possessed the qualities of hard work and care, germane to the historical interpretations of its possible origins. Those who bear the surname today likely have an unknown connection to the Bavarian state of Germany, many centuries ago.

Sieffers: Where does the name Sieffers come from?

The last name Sieffers is most commonly found in Germany today. It originated in Westphalia, more specifically the city of Osnabruck, in the 18th century. The name was likely derived from the Low German word "siefers" which referred to a type of coarse linen material.

The earliest known bearer of the name was Johann Sieffers, who was a brickmaker in the city of Lingen, Germany, in 1673. His descendant Joachim Sieffers moved to Osnabruck and began the line of Sieffers that is still found there today.

Today the Sieffers surname is common in the city and surrounding areas of Osnabruck. In 2019, the surname was recorded as being the 6,233rd most common in Germany, with around 800 people bearing the name. Its presence is particularly concentrated in the western region of Germany near the Dutch border, with the highest concentration in the Lower Saxony townships of Osnabruck, Melle and Preussisch Oldendorf.

Outside of Germany, the name is quite rare. There are Sieffers families scattered primarily across North America, and some in the United Kingdom, Belgium and other parts of Europe as well.

Variations of the surname Sieffers

The surname Sieffers (also spelled Siefers/Siefkes/Siefker/Sieffers/Syfers/Syfkes) is of Dutch origin and is a patronymic surname deriving from the given name ‘Sieff’ or ‘Siefke’. The given name was derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘served’, which can either mean ‘royalty’ or ‘trial’.

Variant surnames that sound a lot like Sieffers include Siefkes, Siefker, Seigers, Sievers, Seifers, Siffers, Seevers, Sivars, Siefen, and Siears. A few other surname variants might include Syfers, Syfkes, and Seiffers.

Surnames that have an equivalent origin, meaning, or sound as that of Sieffers include, but are not limited to: Seiph, Sieversen, Sipers, Sepers, Sievering, Siemer, and Seyffert. There are also various surnames which have evolved out of patronymic surnames associated with Sieffers such as Sieffers van der Hillen, Sieffers de Jong, and Sieffers de Vries.

The source records for the name Sieffers show that it was first recorded in East Friesia, the northeastern regions of today’s Germany, in the 13th century. It is believed to have been in use in the Netherlands for the same period of time, and the most common form in the United States is Sievers. This surname is common in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and throughout America and Canada.

The frequency of these surnames within the population, and their possible relatedness, make researching a family tree that carries the Sieffers surname a daunting but rewarding opportunity. Knowing one’s family past is something that can be passed down from generation to generation and can provide a sense of identity and belonging.

Famous people with the name Sieffers

• Marco Sieffers: a professional mixed martial artist from Germany who competes in the flyweight division of the European MMA organization Superior Challenge.
• Léon Louis Sieffers: a French painter, art critic and commissioner of the Arts who served on the faculty of the École des Beaux-Arts as a professor.
• Joseph Sieffers: an immigrants' rights lawyer who served as a lawyer for the World War II Japanese-Americaninternment camps.
• Erin Sieffers: a US-based swimmer who was nationally ranked in 2011 and 2012, and is a two-time All-American.
• Samuel Sieffers: a Dutch businessman who co-founded several major department stores in Denmark.
• Theodore Sieffers: an orthopaedic surgeon in Brooklyn, New York.
• Florentinus Sieffers: a Dutch scientist who specialized in genetics and was a research fellow at the Botanical Garden in SC Heerenveen, The Netherlands.
• Cor Sieffers: a Dutch radio DJ and former radio manager at NPO Radio 1 in the Netherlands.
• Émile Sieffers: a French lawyer who defended the governor-general of French Indochina, Admiral d’Argenlieu, in the wake of the Japanese occupation of Indochina during World War II.
• Carole Sieffers: a French film director, producer, and screenwriter who won the Prix du Jury at the César Awards in 2003 for her film, ‘Le Havre’.

Other surnames

Sieffert