Surname Unverfärth - Meaning and Origin
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Unverfärth: What does the surname Unverfärth mean?
The German surname Unverfärth is derived from either the personal name Unverfahrt or the geographical name Unverfahren, both of which are peculiar to the region of Hesse-Nassau in central Germany. The first element of the name is derived from the Middle High German "unverfahren" which means "free" or "unrestricted", that is, free to move around. The second element is likely from either the Old High German personal name "Fahrt" or the Proto-Germanic word "fahr" meaning travel or journey. As a result, Unverfärth can be loosely translated as "free to travel".
The Unverfärth surname is first recorded in the early 17th century in the Alsace region of France, though the origin of the name is German. As such, it is most prevalent in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland. The majority of individuals bearing this surname have roots in the Hessian regions of the country. However, a small number of Unverfärths had ventured to other parts of Europe including the Netherlands, France, and England as well.
The Unverfärth family primarily includes middle and upper-class merchants, landowners, and tradesmen. In the 19th century, some of the Unverfärths emigrated to the United States and established themselves in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Today, the Unverfärth surname continues to be found in many parts of Europe, with the largest populations located in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisUnverfärth: Where does the name Unverfärth come from?
The last name Unverfärth is found in Germany, with a current prevalence in the northern state of Lower Saxony. Historically, the name is believed to have originated as a Germanized version of a Slavic personal name. It likely began as a patronymic surname referring to a son of the father, with the "färth" element referring to "father."
The name Unverfärth is still common in the Lower Saxony region, with more than 1,500 people carrying the surname according to recent reports. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as Luxembourg, Austria, and parts of the Netherlands. In the United States, however, the name is rare, with fewer than 200 people carrying the surname concentrate in major cities such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco as well as Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Today, Unverfärth is a rare surname, and it is still associated with Germany and the Lower Saxony region. Most of its owners can still be found in Germany, though some have spread to other parts of Europe and the United States. The name has a long history in German speaking countries, and it can still be found there to this day.
Variations of the surname Unverfärth
Unverfärth is a German surname derived from the towns of Unverfärth and Unverfürth in central Germany. The surname is most commonly found among families of German descent. Variations and alternate spellings of the surname Unverfärth include Unberforht, Unberferth, Onverfärth, Unverfaerth, Unferfärth, Unverfürth, Unbefaert, Unberfert, Unberfuerth, Unverfarth, Unberforth, Onverfaert, and Umverferth.
Variations on the name may have been used to distinguish one branch of the family from another, or to distinguish a family that had moved away from the original home town with the same name. Surnames derived from Unverfürth or Unverfärth are quite rare outside of Germany.
In addition to these variations on the Unverfärth surname, other German surnames that are related to Unverfärth include Unverfehrt, Unverfehrdt, Unverfehrte, Unverfehre, Unverfehrther, Oberferth, Unberferth, Oberverth, Unberverth, and Unberferte.
These variations of the Unverfärth surname are reflective of the German language's penchant for making subtle changes to words. This is also true for the other German surnames related to Unverfärth. German speakers may write and pronounce the same word differently depending on regional or even personal preference.
Famous people with the name Unverfärth
- Kirsten Unverfärth-Fölster: German designer, restaurateur and lifestyle influencer.
- Ernst-Heinrich Unverfärth: German jurist and politician.
- Ludwig Unverfärth: German soldier and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
- Ernst Unverfärth: German voice actor and dubbing artist, known for voicing characters in the animated television series Dora the Explorer and Pocoyo.
- Fanny Unverfärth: German actress and voice actress, best known for her roles in the films Le roi des aulnes (The King of the Aulnes), and Elverhøj (Elverhoy).
- Traugott Unverfärth: German entomologist.
- Roland Unverfärth: German historian and author of numerous books about German history.
- Carl Unverfärth: German composer and conductor.
- Ingrid Unverfärth: German artist known for her sculpture and painting.
- Christoph Unverfärth: German diplomat, writer and literary scholar.