Origin of Geffen
This interesting surname has several possible sources. These include English from the a short form of the personal name Geoffrey introduced by the Normans after the 1066 Invasion. Irish from the name Mag Dhuibhfinn, derived from the elements "dubh", black and "Finn", a personal name meaning fair haired or fair complexion, Scottish and locational from a place called Giffen, in the parish of Beith, Ayrshire. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace.
The same explanation applies to the Dutch, being from the town of Geffen in the Netherlands, although the spelling is usually Van Geffen or Van Giffen. Here "geffen" means land, and this explanation may apply the to the Scottish origin. The modern surname can be found as Geffen, McGiffin, McGiffen, McGeffen, Van Geffen and Van Giffen. Among the sample recordings are those of Rosa van Geffen of Hertogsbosch, The Netherlands, on March 18th 1701, John, the son of John McGiffin and Margaret Gill, on November 29th 1865 in Belfast, and William Mc Giffin on November 15th 1866 at Carrickfergus, both in County Antrim. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Peter Geffen, which was dated 1332, in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, during the reign of King Edward 111,known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The surname Geffen. Its genealogy, origins, history, and meaning.
Discovering the historical origins of Geffen is an incredibly exciting journey that takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who built this lineage. Like most surnames, the history of the surname Geffen is a thorny and surprising journey into the past in order to find out the origin of the surname Geffen, which leads us to have more knowledge about those who bear the surname Geffen, their origin, their coat of arms, the bibliography in which it appears... It is possible to trace their genealogy and, in addition to the original places of Geffen, we know where it is possible to find people with the surname Geffen today.
View complete list of Geffen in the world
Geffen: historical chronicle
The history of Geffen is an interesting sequence of events that were protagonized by the people who have held the surname Geffen throughout history, and it is possible to trace this history back to the first bearers of the surname Geffen. Their feats, their way of life, the places they lived, their family relationships, the jobs they held... All of this is crucial for anyone who, like you, is interested in having more information about the historical, heraldic, coat of arms, and nobility of the surname Geffen. In the following lines, you can find everything we have been able to compile about the surname Geffen. However, if you have more information that you would like to share, we would greatly appreciate your contribution to expand the knowledge of people who, like you, are looking to increase their knowledge about the surname Geffen.
Unfortunately, we do not have any more historical information about Geffen than the one we have provided with pleasure. We invite those who visit us on this website to analyze the recommended bibliography and to come back often, since we often receive valuable collaborations from other people interested in the origin and history of surnames that could have information of special interest about the surname Geffen, and that we would update on this website as soon as possible (after a previous verification). Similarly, if you consider yourself one of those people, we urge you to support us and send us the information about Geffen that is available to you, thanking you in advance for your detail.
The most famous Geffen in history
There have probably been some significant Geffen throughout the history of humanity, even if, for some reason, not all of their contributions were included in the chronicles of the time or their data has not come down to the present day. Unfortunately, not all of the important contributions of people who have carried the surname Geffen were taken into account at the time by the chroniclers of the time. Although a surname has the ability to link a person to a famous lineage and a glorious coat of arms, it is individuals who, throughout their lives and by virtue of some outstanding or important achievements for the society in which they lived, give their surnames renown and it is possible to establish prominent lineages. For this reason, we want to highlight on this website those people with the surname Geffen who, for some reason, have left their mark on the course of history.
The surname Geffen and its bibliographic sources
Based on all the research we have been able to gather so far, we can say that there is information available about the history, genealogy, and heraldry of the surname Geffen thanks to bibliographic sources. This means that we can discover more about its original meaning, origin, history, coat of arms, and heraldry. Our recommendation is to consult the following sources if you want to conduct research on the surname Geffen, as well as many other surnames:
Bibliographic sources for Geffen
These sources are essential for taking a step forward in the study of Geffen, and of surnames in general.
