Surname Umfray - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'U'
Umfray: What does the surname Umfray mean?
The surname Umfray is believed to have French origins, specifically from the Old French forename "Humfrey" or "Humfray", which were popular during the Medieval Period. This name consists of two elements: "hun", meaning bear cub, high spirit or heart, and "frid", meaning peace, protection or safety. Thus, the surname essentially carries the connotations of a spirited protector or a peaceful bear cub. However, it should be noted that the precise meaning of any surname can be difficult to ascertain, as they often evolved over time and can be influenced by various factors including geographical region, occupation, nickname, or a patriarchal or matriarchal line. As with most surnames, different families with the surname Umfray may have different origins and meanings attached to the surname. Since it's less common, its exact history and lineage may be more challenging to trace.
Order DNA origin analysisUmfray: Where does the name Umfray come from?
The surname Umfray has French origins and is derived from the old French personal name "Humfrey". After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the name made its way to England and underwent various spelling changes over the centuries. The surname Umfray is fairly uncommon and is not particularly concentrated in any specific geographic region today. However, it may be more common to find individuals bearing this name in countries with significant populations of French origin or in countries where French is spoken, such as France, Canada, and parts of Belgium and Switzerland. Online databases suggest a small presence of the Umfray surname in the United States and United Kingdom. It's important to note the distribution of surnames changes over time due to various factors such as migration, hence tracing its prevalence can be challenging.
Variations of the surname Umfray
The surname Umfray may trace its origin back to the Germanic name Humphrey, which was brought to England by the Normans. Variations of this name include Umfreville, Umphrey, Humphrey, Humfrey, and Humphries. The surname also went through translation in other languages, giving rise to such versions as Humphris, Humphrys, Humphriss, Humpherson, and Humphray in English; Homfray or Humfray in Welsh; Onofrio in Italian; Onfroi in French; and Humprecht in Czech.
The surname can also appear with different spelling variants due to different phonetic spellings, misspellings over time or geographical differences. Most commonly, the name can be found as Umfrey, Umfry, Umfrai, or even Humfray.
Additionally, the historically common practice of adopting the mother's or wife's surname or using a middle name as a surname may also result in different but related surnames. In the case of Umfray, related last names may include names derived from other parts of the original given name, such as Humph, Hump, or Frey.
It is important to remember that surname variations can vary widely, even within the same geographical region or family, due to variations in spelling, regional accents, and personal preference.
Famous people with the name Umfray
- Umfray I of Cologne: Emperor of the Franks from 813 till his death in 817.
- Umfray Gianavel: French fighter pilot who fought in World War I.
- Philip Umfray: British journalist who wrote for The Guardian from 1948-1986.
- Mary Umfray-Dugan: British writer and doctor of natural sciences in the 19th century.
- Sir Benjamin Umfray: British soldier and baron who fought in the Crimean War.
- Rev. Thomas Umfray: 17th century Anglican pastor and founder of Umfray College in Oxfordshire.
- Sven Umfray: Danish linguist who wrote extensively about the literature and culture of Scandinavian countries.
- Gregorio Umfray: Spanish artist known for his abstract urbanized compositions.
- David Umfray: American cartoonist who illustrated the comic strip ‘The Human Fish’ from 1965-1992.
- Anne-Marie Umfray: Canadian professional equestrian who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.