Surname Rephun - Meaning and Origin

Rephun: What does the surname Rephun mean?

The last name Rephun is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German “erffüne,” which means “heir apparent.” The name Rephun likely started out with the meaning of “someone related to the status and material wealth of nobility.” The earliest recorded bearing of this name was Peter Rephun, who was kept on record in 1276 as the son of a nobleman in the city of Erfurt.

In the modern era, the last name Rephun is still primarily concentrated in Germany, but it has spread to other parts of Europe and North America. The widespread use of the name Rephun in Europe is likely due to the geography of the continent as well as both peaceful and forced migrations in Europe over the centuries.

The meaning of the name Rephun has certainly evolved over the centuries, but its essence remain the same. The name Rephun indicates a connection to nobility and wealth, even today. It can also be associated with scholarship and ambition, as those who bear this last name often strive to meet their high standards as a result of their connections to historical nobility, wealth, and power. With a storied past, the name Rephun remains a prominent and revered symbol for those it touches.

Rephun: Where does the name Rephun come from?

The last name Rephun is most common in North America today, particularly in the United States.

The first person to bear the Rephun name is thought to have been a Jewish immigrant who settled in America in the late nineteenth century. The Rephun name appears to be of European origin, possibly derived from a German word meaning ‘adored’ or ‘beloved’. After immigrating to America, it is likely that the family adopted the spelling of their name as ‘Rephun’ by taking a less-common Anglicized version of their original German-Jewish surname written as ‘Raphan’.

Today, the Rephun surname is most frequently found in states such as New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California. It is especially common in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

A search on Ancestry.com reveals that its use has waned a bit since 1990. By that year, this surname's usage had reached its zenith in the United States, with the most common Rephun locations being New York and Pennsylvania. Since then, while the number of Rephun locations in Pennsylvania has held steady, New York has seen the greatest decline, with the last name becoming increasingly more scattered across the country.

It appears that the Rephun name is, or has been, consistently tied to Jewish communities in the United States and Canada, with a few exceptions of the use of the Rephun name in other corners of the world.

Variations of the surname Rephun

The surname Rephun has several variants, spellings, and surnames related to its origin. The most common variants are Rephon, Refoen, and Reformen. The original German spelling of the name is Rephun. This would be "Repfun" or "Repfuhn" in the old Bavarian dialect.

Other variants of this surname could include Refoen, Refon, Repfin, Repfinne, Rephpun, Repfen, Repfenn, Repfein, and Refpheon. Variations of this surname in other languages include the Dutch Repfen, French Réfin, and Italian Refino.

This surname is related to other surnames from the same origin, such as Rippin, Riespin, Reschpin, Ruppen, Ruppin, Raffen, and Rappen. All of these surnames share the same root, and are derived from the Germanic term “rip” meaning “people” or “kin”.

In the United States, Rephun is a relatively uncommon name. The number of persons bearing this surname in the 2000 United States Census was 19. Most persons with the Rephun surname today can be found in Germany and the United States.

Famous people with the name Rephun

• Mel Rephun: Former British Member of Parliament for Chippenham in Wiltshire.
• Chad Rephun: Professional American basketball player who currently plays for the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League.
• Randy Rephun: Retired professional American ice hockey player who played for several teams in the National Hockey League.
• Kristina Rephun: Award-winning Canadian voice actor and singer.
• Mark Rephun: Writer, producer, and director best known for his work on the television series, "Invader Zim".
• Thomas Rephun: German historian and philosopher of the early modern period.
• John Rephun: American composer and musical director for theater, movie adverts, and television shows.
• Solomon Rephun: Award-winning American rabbi and leader of the Center for Judaic and Army Values.
• Harry Rephun: American businessman and philanthropist best known for his work in the metal industry.
• Richard Rephun: Former mayor of the city of Syracuse, New York.

Other surnames

Rephuhn