Surname Deffinbaugh - Meaning and Origin
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Deffinbaugh: What does the surname Deffinbaugh mean?
The last name Deffinbaugh is of German origin and dates back to the early 1500s. The name is derived from Old German, with the "deffin" part referring to a person who participates in fencing and the "-baugh" part referring to someone living near a stream. Together, it could be translated as "fencethrower on the brook."
In terms of the name's history, records of early Deffinbaugh families in Germany date back to 1529. The first recorded spelling of the surname can be found in the 1535 wills of both Tobias and Barbara Deffinbaugh in Freyberg, Saxony. Later records show the family in Cologne, Wurttemberg, and Baiersdorf where they rose to prominence and formed various alliances with other families.
In the latter half of the 1700s, the Deffinbaughs began expanding outside of Germany's borders, with many members of the family eventually immigrating to the United States. Once in the US, the family spread across the country, and were active in in business, politics, education, and the military. Today, the Deffinbaughs remain scattered around the globe as a living reminder of their long and rich European heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisDeffinbaugh: Where does the name Deffinbaugh come from?
The last name Deffinbaugh is an uncommon surname in the United States, but this surname originated from German and Dutch ancestry. The earliest recorded use of the Deffinbaugh surname was in the 1600s in the Netherlands. Today, the Deffinbaugh surname is found primarily in the United States, with the states with the highest concentration of people with this surname being Pennsylvania, followed by Ohio and Michigan.
Within the United States, Deffinbaugh surname is predominantly found in the Midwestern states. Sandy Deffinbaugh, the first president of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, has done extensive research about the Deffinbaugh heritage. According to his study, the majority of the Deffinbaugh families living in the state of Pennsylvania have their roots in York County or Lancaster County.
Outside of the United States, the Deffinbaugh surname is more common in South Africa, where it is believed there were some emigrants from Europe in the 1800s who settled in that country. Canada also has some presence of the Deffinbaugh surname, with most of the individuals having a Scottish heritage.
It appears that the Deffinbaugh surname is most predominately found in the United States, with the highest concentration of people with that surname being in the Midwestern states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
Variations of the surname Deffinbaugh
The surname Deffinbaugh is derived from the old German personal name Theodenebald, which was composed of the Germanic elements theudo, meaning “people,” and bald, meaning “bold.”
Variants of Deffinbaugh include Deffenburg, Deffenburgher, Dephenbaugh, Deffenbaugh, Definnbacher, Deffembaur, and Deffenbacher.
The spelling of Deffinbaugh may also appear as Daffinbaugh, Daffenburg, Deffenbaugh, Deffenbarger, Deffinbarger, and Deffenbarker.
The surname Deffinbaugh is also found in different spellings and surnames in other countries. In France the surname may be spelled Desfovernment, Defovernment, or Desfourment. In Austria there is Defengrube, and in Germany Defenbacher and Deffenbacher.
In Sweden, the surname may appear as Defengren, and in Finland, it may be Deffengren.
In England the name may be found spelled Deffinbury, Defenbourgh, Deffenburg, and Deffenbaching.
In the Netherlands, the name is Deffenbach, Defenbach, and Defenbaugh.
In Ukraine the surname is Deffinbacher, and in Denmark, it is Deffenbach.
In Poland the name is Deffenbacher, and in Belgium, it is Deffinbacher.
Famous people with the name Deffinbaugh
- Bob Deffinbaugh: a retired pastor from Houston, Texas, Bob Deffinbaugh, is a respected figure in the Christian community. He has written numerous articles, books, and sermons on biblical topics and is well known for his work in expository preaching.
- Steve Deffinbaugh: Steve is a youth minister, Christian apologist, and speaker based in Los Angeles, California. He has appeared on various networks and podcasts and has authored books.
- Michael Deffinbaugh: Michael is an American actor, best known for his portrayal as Zack Johnson in the television drama series 24.
- Jeff Deffinbaugh: Jeff is a professional golfer, currently listed on the All-American team. He is also an ambassador for the USGA and a youth mentor.
- Ken Deffinbaugh: Ken was a professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets from 1983 to 1987. He is currently a youth basketball coach in Denver.