Surname Humfraville - Meaning and Origin
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Humfraville: What does the surname Humfraville mean?
Humfraville is a last name of Anglo-Saxon origin, stemming from the Old French personal name 'Hunfrid,' which means 'peaceful Hun.' The syllable 'Hun' refers to a member of a nomadic pastoralist people who invaded southeastern Europe in the 4th century and were eventually overthrown in 455 AD. 'Frid' comes from the Old English 'frith,' meaning peace. The 'ville' part likely comes from the Old French 'ville' meaning a town or settlement. Therefore, Humfraville could essentially mean 'peaceful Hun from the town.' However, meanings of surnames, especially ones with such ancient origins, are largely speculative. An alternative theory suggests it may be a locational surname referencing a place in Normandy, France. The Humfravilles were a prominent family in Northumberland and Yorkshire during the Middle Ages, after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the first recorded instances of this surname is Robert de Umfreville, who lived in the 12th century.
Order DNA origin analysisHumfraville: Where does the name Humfraville come from?
The surname Humfraville seems to originate from France. The name is likely of Norman origin, which indicates that the first people with this surname were likely Viking settlers who moved to the Normandy region in France before participating in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name appears in historical records in northern France, indicating that it could also have local geographical origins. The name is unusual and not commonly found today. Extensive searches of international and national databases suggest that the Humfraville surname is extremely rare, with few known bearers of the surname in modern times. This makes it difficult to determine where the name might be common today. It is therefore presumed that the surname Humfraville is most likely to be found in France, England, and perhaps among descendants of British colonists in North America, Australia, and other regions of the former British Empire, although the number of bearers is likely to be small.
Variations of the surname Humfraville
The surname Humfraville likely originates from the place name Umfraville which further derives from a place in Normandy named Amfreville, meaning "Amfred's settlement".
Other variations and spellings of Humfraville could possibly include:
1. Umfreville: This is another common spelling of the surname and was widely used during medieval times.
2. Umfravile: This variation can be traced back to old English documents and census reports. It retains the same pronunciation as the original.
3. Umferville: This is a simplified version of the surname, possibly created for easier spelling and pronunciation.
4. Umfrville: A less common variation, but still carries the same origin from the Norman surname.
However, it seems that Humfraville and its variants are not common surnames, so there may be few alternates to these spellings. Over the years, spellings of surnames can change significantly due to factors like emigration, illiteracy and phonetics. Still, all its variants share a common lineage and can trace back to the original Norman roots. This shows how rich and complex the history of surnames can be.
Famous people with the name Humfraville
- Henry de Humfraville: He was an English medieval knight and a soldier who was active in 1165-1166 during the Barons' War.
- Henry de Humfraville: He was the Baron of Newton and Montboucher in Normandy; he was active in the first quarter of the 13th century.
- Eudes de Humfraville: He was a British navy admiral who served in the first part of the reign of Henry V.
- Simon de Humfraville: He was a French soldier who lived from 1230-1283 and was a leader in the Seventh Crusade.
- Guiscard de Humfraville: He was a knight who is noted in a charter dated 1201.
- Gilbert de Humfraville: He is an English knight who is noted in a charter dated 1205.
- Roger de Humfraville: He was a French knight who lived in the 13th century.
- David de Humfraville: He was an English knight who is mentioned in several charters during 1271-1274.
- Robert de Humfraville: He was a French soldier who lived in the 13th century.
- Hugh de Humfraville: He was an English squire who lived in the 13th century.