Surname Siefritz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Siefritz: What does the surname Siefritz mean?
The German surname Siefritz is of the locative or topographic type, which means it is derived from the name of a place or geographic feature. In this case, it likely refers to the city of Seifriz, the Old Bavarian name of which was Siefritze. This city is the capital of the district of Rottal-Inn in Bavaria, Germany and is located close to the Inn River.
The meaning of the name is believed to come from the old German word "sifri," which means linden tree or lime tree. This kind of tree was prevalent in the area of Seifriz and likely served as a significant landmark when this area was settled during the Middle Ages.
It is likely that the name Siefritz was adopted by people who lived near this city, which explains why it is found predominantly in Bavaria. It is also possible that the name spread to other places as people migrated away from the area in search of new opportunities.
People with the surname Siefritz can take pride in knowing that their surname most likely comes from an area with a rich history. What's more, they can find a unique connection to the land through the meaning of their surname, as linden trees have been used in many stories and traditions throughout the ages.
Order DNA origin analysisSiefritz: Where does the name Siefritz come from?
The last name Siefritz is most common in Germany today. According to the German telephone directory, there are over 10,000 people with this last name who reside in Germany today.
It remains unknown the accumulation of the Siefritz surname throughout history, yet evidence supports the idea that the name has been in use since at least the mid-1700s. Another top country with this last name is the United States, which had nearly 5,000 documented people with the last name Siefritz in the 2000 census.
Additionally, there is a small presence of Siefritz in Austria and Switzerland as well as scattered families in other countries like Canada and the United Kingdom. Depending on the region, spellings of this last name could vary significantly due to regional dialects and language exchanges. Variations might include: Seifriz, Seefried, Seigned, Siefried, Seiffritz, Seifrid, Sieffert, and Sieffritch, among many others.
Overall, the last name Siefritz is most common in Germany and carries on a long history in Central Europe. To this day, many families continue to use this last name as a part of their heritage.
Variations of the surname Siefritz
The surname Siefritz is derived from the German-Austrian, Swiss-German and English language word for victorious. The variant spellings for Siefritz are Siefrits, Siefritsch, Sieffrits, Sieffritsch, Siefriz, Siefrice, Sieffriz, Sieffrice, Sieffertz, Sifeertz, and Safritz.
The surname Siefritz is most closely associated with Germany and Austria, but it is also found in various other parts of Europe including the Netherlands, England, Denmark, and Switzerland.
In Germany, the name Siefritz originated as a nickname or personal name, and there is evidence of the surname in records dating back to the 13th century. The family in Germany were mostly members of the peasant class.
In Austria, this surname is found as Siefritsch, Sieffritsch, Sieffritz, Sieffrits, etc. This family was of Austrian nobility and had held large amounts of estates in the region.
In England, the surname Siefritz was first recorded in the 13th century as "Sifert." Additionally, records also show the spellings "Sifried, Sieffrith, Sieffritt and Spyrrith," all of which had likely mutated from a more Germanic spelling into the current English version.
In Denmark, the surname is found with the spelling Siefritz and the variants Sifertz and Sieffretz. This family likely came to Denmark from Germany or Austria in the 17th or 18th century.
In Switzerland, the variants Siefritz, Sieffritz, Sifretz/Siefretz, Sieffretz, and Spifritz are found, indicating the family's likely origin in Germany or Austria.
The Siefritz surname is also found in the Netherlands, where it is spelled with variants such as Seefritz, Sieffritsch, Sieffreitz, and Siefrytz.
Overall the Siefritz surname is widespread across Europe, reflecting its German-Austrian origin.
Famous people with the name Siefritz
- Pip Siefritz: German actor and playwright, best-known for his performance in the television series, Tatort.
- Wolfgang Siefritz: German painter and sculptor, best-known for his works of Catholic religious scenes.
- Karl Siefritz: German artist and historian, noted for his work in restoring the ancient city of York.
- Paul Siefritz: German-born composer and pianist.
- Emma Siefritz: German-born American actress and singer, best-known for her roles in the Broadway musicals "My Fair Lady" and "South Pacific".
- Louise Siefritz: German-born American singer and songwriter, best-known for her songs “Gonna Fly Now” and “The Power of Love”.
- Eric Siefritz: German-born American film director, producer, and screenwriter, best-known for directing the popular films "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile".
- Erich Siefritz: German-born American filmmaker and animator, best-known for his work on the films "The Polar Express" and "Shrek".
- Johannes Siefritz: German-born film producer, best-known for his work on the films "The French Connection" and "The Deer Hunter".
- Friedrich Siefritz: German-born actor and director, renowned for his work in the films ""M" and "Queen of the Damned".