Surname Uffort - Meaning and Origin

Uffort: What does the surname Uffort mean?

The last name Uffort is an old name of French and German origin. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Uffert" meaning "valuable," or as an occupational name meaning "cooper." It is also believed to be connected with the old French words "hôtelier" meaning an innkeeper or hotelier.

In several Germanic languages, the name was formerly written "Hauffort" or "Haufert" and was derived from the old Germanic words "Hauf" (meaning a heap or pile) and “fert” meaning ferry. In Swedish, this occupation later evolved into the word “huffertare,” which referred to a person who guided horses out of the water onto boats.

In France and Germany, membership of Uffort families was typically associated with large noble houses. As a result, the name can also be seen as originating from the French word "évêque" (meaning "bishop"). This origin may indicate that the family was connected to powerful ecclesiastical institutions, a possible explanation of their wealth and influence.

The Uffort name has since spread to all parts of the world, and its variants have been adopted in the Netherlands (Ufverts), Denmark (Ufferson) and England (Uffers). The Ufforts have become a large family throughout Europe, and in the United States of America, and still proudly carry on the tradition of their ancestors.

Uffort: Where does the name Uffort come from?

The last name Uffort is most commonly found in Germany today. According to records from the Central Bureau of Genealogy, in 2017 there were 8,372 individuals with the last name living in Germany. The name is believed to be of German origin, and was likely derived from the word "Hauffort" which means "protector of the court".

Although the Uffort name is more common in Germany, there are still quite a few people with the name scattered throughout other countries in Europe. In Poland, there were more than 200 people with the name in 2017. There are also a few hundred people with the name in Austria, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium.

Outside of Europe, the last name Uffort is much less common. In the United States, for instance, there were only 11 individuals with the name in 2017, making it quite rare. Other countries where the name is found in small numbers include Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Overall, the last name Uffort is most common in Germany today. There are also small groups of people with the name scattered throughout other countries in Europe as well as some areas of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Uffort

The surname Uffort is thought to originate from the place names beginning with "Uff", including Uffington, England. Derived from the Old English words “Uffa” meaning “cliff” and “tun” meaning “enclosure”, Uffort is an English topographic surname which describes a person from a place with a cliff-side enclosure. The variants of the surname Uffort include Ufford, Uford, Uford, Uffet, Uffert, Uffrett, Ufferts, Uffretts, Offord, Offert, Offerts, Offretts, and Jefford.

Spellings of the name Uffort include Offert, Offerts, Offerd and Offretts. These spellings originated as an effort to standardize the spelling of the name for use on legal documents. A variation in dialect or pronunciation could cause a spelling difference in language documents of the time, hence why the variants exist today.

Surnames with similar origins and spellings to Uffort include Jefford, Ufford, Ufard, Ufen, Uffen, Uffet, Uffenbach, Uffermann, Uffner, Uffred, Uffhip, Ufrecht, Uffmann, Ufford and Uffordener. These all have their origin in the same place name Uffington, England, and have been naturally shaped by time using local dialects.

The Uffort surname is also common in some European countries, including France, Germany and Austria. It is often spelled with an additional “t” (Uffort) on these countries. As well, the Uffort surname is also found in some parts of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. It is believed the Uffort surname entered these countries through emigration from England and other parts of Britain. All of these surnames have become part of the wider family of the Uffort surname, which can be traced back to Uffington, England.

Famous people with the name Uffort

• Paul Uffort: German film editor known for his work on German television films and shows.
• Patricia Uffort: Belgian fashion model, represented by Supreme Management.
• Tia Ufford: American pole vaulter who competed in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.
• Dietmar Ufford: German sports psychologist and former professional footballer who played for several Bundesliga clubs.
• Fabian Ufford: English professional footballer currently playing for AFC Fylde in the National League.
• Johannes “Joe” Uffort: Belgian architect and Professor Emeritus at KU Leuven.
• Matthieu Uffort: French professional cyclist who participated in numerous major races.
• Nico Uffort: German handball player who played for several Bundesliga clubs.
• Shane Ufford: American professional skateboarder known for his work for companies such as Foundation and Etnies.
• Timo Uffort: German professional footballer who played for FC Augsburg and VfL Wolfsburg.

Other surnames

Ufford