Gifford
What is the origin of the last name Gifford?
Meaning and origin
The last name Gifford has English origins, deriving from the Old English personal name "Gyffard" or "Gyffarth," which translates to "spear-strength" or "spear-brave." This surname was originally a patronymic, indicating that it was formed by adding the suffix "-ard" to the given name Giff or Geff, a diminutive of Geoffrey.
The longer story
It is an English surname that originated from the Old French name “Giffard,” which was itself derived from the Germanic personal name “Gyffard.”
The etymology of the name “Gifford” reveals its meaning as “brave spear.” The Germanic element “Gyff” refers to a spear, while “hard” means brave or hardy.
As is common with many last names, the spelling of Gifford has evolved over time. Variations of the name include Giffard, Gyfford, Gyffarde, and Giffarde. Such variations are typical in names that have been passed down through generations and across different regions.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,834
Gifford was the 1,834th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 19,514 people, about 6.3 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Gifford
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Gifford is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.