Surname Geffroy - Meaning and Origin
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iGENEA - A Journey Into Identity and the Tale of the Geffroy Surname
My iGENEA experience was a transformative journey. The DNA test revealed the story of my family and the surname ‘Geffroy’, unlocking a deeper sense of identity and belonging. The experience was a mix of excitement, curiosity, and humility, reshaping my understanding of family and its place in history.
P. Geffroy
read moreGeffroy: What does the surname Geffroy mean?
The last name Geffroy is a French surname, and has its origins in the Old French personal name Geoffroy which in turn comes from the Old German Galfridus or Galfrid meaning ‘peaceful ruler’. The name can also refer to someone who hailed from a Germanic country as the prefix 'Gau' indicated in the original form of the name.
Geffroy is an occupational surname, derived from the occupation as a horseman or master of horse. As horses were a key source of transportation in medieval times, this leads us to believe that the family was probably of nobility, as horse riding was a skill reserved for the nobility and wealthy classes. The occupational form of the name can also refer to someone who was a beekeeper, an occupation that was considered a useful trade in earlier times.
The Geffroy surname remains common in France, particularly in the region of País Vasco in the Basque Country in southwestern France. It has since become popular in other parts of Europe, as well as in South and Central America, due to emigration from France.
Overall, the Geffroy name is a reminder of the strength, perseverance and noble heritage of its original bearers. With its long and varied history, it has become a name of importance, and a symbol of the distant past.
Order DNA origin analysisGeffroy: Where does the name Geffroy come from?
The last name Geffroy is commonly found today in France. The name has origins in Brittany, an historical province of France located along its western border adjacent to the English Channel. Geffroy is derived from the Old Breton guefron, which literally translates to "the bold one." It is an ancient patronymic name for someone who is related to or descended from an ancestor whose first name began with "Gue".
The name is common across a number of departments in modern-day France, including Ille-et-Vilaine, Cote-d'Or, Moselle, Loiret, and Lozere. Many of those trace their ancestry back to the 16th century when the first records of the Geffroy family appear in a hamlet near Vitre.
Although the name was originally found in Brittany, it has since spread across much of France with families now living in Paris, Grenoble, Toulouse, and many other major cities.
Today, the name Geffroy is also common in countries around the world including Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is especially popular in areas with large French-speaking populations.
Variations of the surname Geffroy
Geffroy is a surname with very few variants, spellings and surnames originating from the same source. The most common spelling is Geffroy, written with two “f's” and a single “y” at the end. This spelling can also be seen with alternative spellings such as Giffroy and Gilfroy, both of which still use two “f's” and a single “y”. The “f's” can also be recognized in more obscure spelling variants such as Geffrōy, Graffeaux and Godefroy.
Geffroy itself is a French surname and many of its variants and surnames originate from France. Other variants of the name include Goffroy, Derffroy, Giffreau, Geoffrain, laughed, and Grorus – all of which stem from the French root. There are also some variations of the name in Spanish and German, such as Jeoffroy, Joffroy, and Jepfroy.
Overall, the name Geffroy and its variants and spellings are not too common, but all spells the same root and origin in French-speakers countries.
Famous people with the name Geffroy
- Mathieu Geffroy: French investigative journalist and author
- Don Geffroy: an American electric blues singer-songwriter
- Jules Albert Geffroy: a 19th-century French painter and caricaturist
- Jacques Geffroy: a French politician and a deputy of the left wing in the National Assembly
- Edouard Geffroy: an 19th-century French architect and designer of the Hôtel des Postes et Télégraphes and the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris
- Jean-François Geffroy: an 18th-century French courtier, official, and entrepreneur
- Christian Geffroy: a French American painter
- Hervé Geffroy: a French American writer
- Judith Geffroy: a French writer of YA and children's literature
- Calixte Geffroy: a French industrialist, politician, and film producer