Surname WAffre - Meaning and Origin
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WAffre: What does the surname WAffre mean?
The surname Waffre doesn't seem to have any widely acknowledged meaning. It could potentially be of French origin, as "waffre" sounds similar to "gaufre" which means "waffle" in French. However, this is purely speculative. The name is extremely uncommon, and due to the limited information available, it's challenging to provide an accurate interpretation or origin.
It's also important to remember that surnames can have different origins based on cultural, geographical or historical context and may also undergo spelling variations over time. Conducting comprehensive genealogical research could potentially yield more specific information about the last name Waffre.
Order DNA origin analysisWAffre: Where does the name WAffre come from?
The last name WAffre is relatively uncommon today, but can be found mostly in France. There is evidence of the name being recorded in the 1600s in the country and those source records show that at that time the name was widespread. The regions of Lorraine and Alsace, near to the borders of Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg, have the highest incidence of the name WAffre.
The region was important when surnames were starting to be recorded and inhabited by French, German and Swiss people at the same time. The proximity to these countries means that the name could have been adopted from any one of them, however records suggest that the surname WAffre was of French origin.
Today, the name WAffre is largely concentrated in the same region where it was first recorded. It is still present in some small French communities and is likely to be found in any census or official record from Lorraine and Alsace. It is also possible to find the name across the border in nearby Belgium or Luxembourg as the result of emigration during the 20th century.
Variations of the surname WAffre
The surname WAffre is an anglicized derivative of several Gaelic surnames, such as "Mac a’ Bháird" and "Ó Báird". These surnames were among the many Irish surnames that were changed or 'translated' upon entering the English-speaking world. The original Irish surname was found mainly in counties Clare and Limerick.
Variants of the surname WAffre include Wafre, Waffer, Waffen, Wafford, Wofard and Woulfard. In Scotland, the surname is sometimes spelled Waffray or Wafray, while in England it may be found as Waffar, Waffers, Woffers, Wofford, Woford or Woulphard.
Surnames of similar origin to WAffre include Wafer, Ward, Wert, Wetherby, Wetherhead, Wethers, Wetherill and Wotherspoon. These names, which can also be derived from the same Gaelic ancestry, are found mainly in both England and Scotland.
In Ireland, the surname "Mac an Bháird" is now rendered as MacGovern, McGoverne, McGouran, McGourne, or Mac Manwa. Meanwhile, the Anglo-Norman "Ó Barda" is rendered as Barter, or Barton, or Berte.
These variants, spellings and surnames of equivalent origin to WAffre provide an insight into the intermingling of cultures in the British Isles, particularly in the southern region of Ireland.
Famous people with the name WAffre
- Jonathan Waffre: French sprinter who competed in the 2006 European Athletics Championships: Men's 200 metres, where he ranked 11th.
- William Arthur Waffre: English cricketer who played in two Test matches for the England national cricket team at Lord's in the 1890s.
- William Waffre: American sculptor from Savannah, Georgia, most known for creating the bronze memorial statue of Robert E. Lee in 1924.
- Nozomi Waffre: Japanese children's musician and singer who is widely known for her appearances in music videos featured on Disney Channel Japan from the late 1990s to early 2000s.
- Carol Waffre: American actress who starred in several films throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
- Ken Waffre: American college basketball player who starred at The University of Southern Mississippi during the 2001-02 season.
- Mary Waffre: American novelist widely known for her romantic suspense novels The Haunting of Grey Star and The Edge of Moonlight.
- Ryan Waffre: English actor who was best known for his appearances in several stage productions during the mid-2010s.
- David Waffre: British artist who is widely known for his drawings, oil paintings, and other fine arts works featured in numerous international art shows and expositions.
- Dita Waffre: Australian pop singer who rose to small fame in the early 2000s as part of the Sydney-based R&B group Star Intro.