Surname Daffy - Meaning and Origin

Daffy: What does the surname Daffy mean?

The last name Daffy is believed to be of Welsh origin derived from the name Davy and was sometimes spelled as Daffey or Daft. The name was likely first found in Glamorganshire, Wales, where it is believed to have first appeared in the 12th century.

The name Daffy likely refers to someone who was "daffy" or "daft," an old English term for being foolish or silly. In the Middle Ages, an individual known to be “daffy” was seen as someone easily distracted, possessed of a kind of absent-mindedness, and a capacity for humorous actions and disagreements. As such, the name could have been applied to someone of an absentminded or light-hearted nature.

The name also may have derived from an old Welsh word "dafydd" which means “beloved” in Welsh. In this context, it could refer to someone who was lovingly cared for or cherished by their parents or peers.

The last name Daffy has since spread and been used by many outside of Wales, including in America, Canada and parts of Europe. It is now a common last name, and is currently used by thousands of people across the world.

Daffy: Where does the name Daffy come from?

The last name Daffy is most commonly found in the United States of America. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are roughly 6,400 people with the last name Daffy living in the United States. This is an uncommon name, making up less than .001% of the population. It is also found in Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the world.

In the United States, the most common states with people with the last name Daffy are California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Florida. California has the largest population, with 876 people with the last name Daffy. New York follows with 711, and Texas is in third place with 609.

The last name Daffy is possibly a variant spelling of the last name Duffy, which itself is found in many parts of the world. Duffy is an Irish surname derived from the Irish Ó Dubhthaigh, meaning "descendant of Dubhthach". Some variants of the name are Duffee, Daffy, Daffee, Daffue, Doffe, Doffey, and Doffie. It may also have originated from a different source.

The last name Daffy is relatively uncommon, but not unheard of. It often appears to be most popular in the United States, however, it can be found in various countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Daffy

The surname Daffy has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spellings and derivatives of the surname Daffy include Daffie, Daffey, Diffy, Diffie, Diffey, Deffie, Deffey, Daff, Deff and Duffey.

The Scottish variant of the surname Daffy is Duff. The Irish variant of the surname Daffy is Duffie or Duffy. The Welsh variant of the surname Daffy is Duff or Dufey. The French variant of the surname Daffy is Daffé.

The most ancient form of the surname Daffy derived from the Old English word daf, which means stupid or silly, and its medieval spelling is Daffy. The surname Daffy is mostly found in England and can be traced to medieval times. The surname Daffy is also recorded in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with records dating back to the 12th century.

Alternate spellings of the surname Daffy include Deffes, Deafey, Deffy, Deffey, Daffey, Daffie, Deaffe, Deffie, Daft, Deafey, Diffie, Diffey, Defeys, Defet, Defey, Deffi, Daftie, Duffie, Duffy and Duffey.

Variations of the surname Daffy can be found in many other languages, such as Dutch (Doffe), German (Daff), Lithuanian (Daivish), Polish (Daffa), Russian (Davy), Ukrainian (Davy) and Yiddish (Daiveh).

Famous people with the name Daffy

• Paul Daffy Dean—American professional baseball player who gained fame with his brother Dizzy Dean, becoming known as the "Daffy Dean Brothers”.
• Daffy Duck—looney cartoon character created by Warner Bros.
• Sam Daffy—actor who appeared in 1984 film Red Dawn.
• David Daffy—Scots-Irish painter born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
• Barbie Daffy—model and television presenter, best known for her roles in the soap opera Hollyoaks.
• Frank Daffy—actor and comedian, best known for his role in All of Me (1984).
• Hugh Daffy—Australian cricketer.
• Paul Daffy Hamilton—British journalist and author.
• Daffy Likeman—American director and playwright, best known for his television movie Cinderella Liberty.
• Elizabeth Daffy—American illustrator from San Francisco, known for her sparkly and whimsical style.

Other surnames

Daff