Surname Umfrid - Meaning and Origin
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Umfrid: What does the surname Umfrid mean?
The last name Umfrid is an old English surname, derived from the Anglo-Saxon forename Ulfried. The name means “wolf peace” and reflects the tribal peace-making customs of the Anglo-Saxons. Historically, Umfrid was most likely a title conferrer by chieftains who achieved a measure of peace among warring factions, or from an individual who held the office of a mediator between warring factions. People with this surname were amongst the earliest settlers in the united kingdom and their descendants can still be found across the British Isles today.
The Umfrid surname is often found early on in British history books. People with this last name are mentioned from as early as the 11th century in the chronicles of Kings William and Edmund I of England. People with this name have also held high positions in the Church of England with some notable figures from the past including John Umfrid, who was the Bishop of Worcester in 1338.
Today, the Umfrid name is still quite common in the UK and also found sporadically across Europe and North America. Although the name has been around for centuries, its true meaning and origin remain a mystery. Some people link the name to ancient Scandinavian words for wolf; others believe it to be a tribute to the peace achieved by warring factions, bequeathed to them by a great leader. Ultimately, the Umfrid surname symbolizes the story of peace and harmony through strength and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisUmfrid: Where does the name Umfrid come from?
At the present day, the surname Umfrid is most commonly found in Germany, although it is not a particularly common surname.
The origin of the surname Umfrid is believed to be Germanic, derived from the element ‘umfr’ which means boundary or edge. The name was likely first used as a toponymic surname, referring to someone who lived near a boundary or edge.
The earliest known record of the surname is from 1177 in Germany, when one Stephanus Umfridi held an estate in the town of Bassum, Lower Saxony. Since then, the surname has spread throughout Germany and can be found in many cities and towns.
In modern times, the surname is still relatively uncommon, with only a few hundred people carrying the name in Germany. There are a few dozen Umfrid families living in the US, Canada, and other areas around the world.
Most Umfrid families today likely descended from the earliest German settlers, although it is impossible to tell who specifically those ancestors were. However, what is certain is that the Umfrid surname is an enduring one, that has been passed down for centuries and will likely still be alive in future generations to come.
Variations of the surname Umfrid
The surname Umfrid is an anglicized spelling of the German name Humfrid, which has several variants. These include Humfrid, Umnfrid, Umbfrid, Umfridt, Umphrid, Umphryd, and Humfred.
Umphred is an alternative spelling of the name, and can also be seen spelled as Umpherd, Umpherid, Uatomicstraction, and Umphert. Umphert can also be seen as Umphril, Umafrid, and Umpred.
The variations of the surname Humfrid are also found in differing spellings - such as Humfred, Humfrit, Humphred, Humphrit, Humpfrit, Umfrit, and Umfried.
In Scandinavia, the surname is a cognate of Håkan or Hakon and translates as “high-born,” making it a byname of Viking origin - and can be seen spelled as Håkon, Haakon, Hakon, Hakone, or Håken.
The surname can also have a French origin, evolving from the German name home name Alfrid and can be found spelled as Alphred and Alphrid.
In the United States, the surname can be seen in spelling variants such as Umpridge, a variation thought to derive from assimilation of the English-Irish surname Hamprich, which is in itself derived from Humphrey or Humphris.
The surname Umfrid can also have derived from the French surname “Homfrid,” which can be translated as “peaceful strength.” Variations of this can be seen spelled as Homfries, Homfree, Homfrey, Omfri, Homfrye, Humfries, Homfri, Oamfriese, and Homfreye.
Famous people with the name Umfrid
- Craig Umfrid: Emmy Award-winning Film editor and composer
- Tom Umfrid: drummer and former member of the American rock group The Monkees
- Seth Umfrid:American Emmy Award-winning producer and director of television, film, music videos, and commercials
- Brad Umfrid: American Grammy Award-winning Guitarist and bassist
- Bob Umfrid: American jazz musician and singer
- Richard Umfrid: American crime writer
- Christie Umfrid: American photographer
- Nataliya Umfrid: Ukrainian Olympic diver
- Ryan Umfrid: American actor and voice actor
- Margaret Umfrid: American playwright and author of children’s books
- Jeff Umfrid: American technology executive