Surname Roefer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Roefer: What does the surname Roefer mean?
The last name Roefer (alternatively spelled Röfer, Roever, or Roehrer) is an uncommon German surname of ancient origin. It is believed to derive from the Middle High German terms "rowe" or "rohre", meaning a reed or a pipe. This suggests the surname was originally associated with makers of reed instruments such as flutes, recorders, and bagpipes, and may refer to a profession related to musical instruments or a family of maker-musicians. It is widely believed that Roefer was also an occupational surname referring to a caretaker of reeds, likely referring to people who managed wetland pastures or harvested and sold reeds as a commodity.
Later on, the spelling and pronunciation of Roefer varied between different German dialects and was adopted by many different languages, including Dutch, Czech, and Swedish. As the Roefer surname remains uncommon even today, its original meaning is difficult to trace with any degree of accuracy. However, it is clear that the surname was related to either making and playing musical instruments or caring for wetland reeds. This provides a strong indication that the Roefer family has been keeping up these traditions for many centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisRoefer: Where does the name Roefer come from?
The surname Roefer is most commonly seen today in Germany and several other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. It is relatively uncommon in other parts of the world, however, it does have a few occurrences in the United States as well as in the Netherlands and some other parts of Europe.
It should be noted that because the surname Roefer is so rare in most parts of the world, it is difficult to track its origin and the exact places of prevalence now. Research suggests that it likely derives from either the Middle High German word "rofe" which means "spade" or "hoe," or from the Middle German word "rofer" which means "miner."
In Germany, the name is slightly more common and can be found in the western part of the country, primarily in Saxony and the western regions of Lower Saxony. It is also present in the southern areas of Rhineland-Palatinate, but it is not as frequent there.
In the U.S., the name can be found in North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and other parts of the Midwest. It is thought to have arrived with a few German immigrants who settled there in the late 1800s.
Overall, the surname Roefer is relatively rare around the world, with the most places of occurrence being Germany and several other German-speaking countries. Those with this surname have likely descended from either miners or individuals who worked with hoes and spades during medieval times.
Variations of the surname Roefer
The surname Roefer is an anglicized form of the German surname Röfer, which is derived from Middle High German. The surname is thought to originate from the occupation of roofer or ropemaker. Historically, many different variants of the name could be found in official records, with spellings including Roefeer, Roepfer, Rufer, Ruefeer, Rueffer, Rufeer, and Ruffser. Additional linguistic variants included Röefer, Röpfer, Ruwfer, and Roweifer.
The variants of this surname reflect the various dialects found in German speaking nations throughout Europe, and many of the same pronunciation transformations can still be seen today. In some regions of Germany, the name is also known as Rohfer or Röwer, while in Austria it is often spelled Röwwer. Variants of the name have also been found in the Netherlands and Switzerland, with spellings including Robeer, Ruwfer, Ruwffer, and Ruffer.
Surnames derived from the same origin which are still in use today include Reifers, Rölves, Reufers, Röpke, Rüpke, Röfke, and Rufke.
The surname Roefer can also be found in the United States and Canada, having been brought to the new world by German immigrants. In many cases, the surname was further modified to match the pronunciation of the local languages, leading to variants such as Rolph, Rolphs, Raaf, Raaphorst, and Raf.
Famous people with the name Roefer
- Kristofer Roefer, a German actor, writer, and comedian who starred in the popular German sitcom, Kongas.
- Steve Roefer, an American football coach and former player.
- Christian Roefer, a fashion designer based in Berlin.
- Brant Roefer, an Australian former professional athlete, rugby player, and endurance runner.
- Robert Roefer, a renowned Bee researcher and professor at Penn State University.
- Cheryl Roefer, an American bariatric clinician, author, and media personality.
- Sarah Roefer, a Grammy-nominated pop artist from Crailsheim, Germany.
- Andrew Roefer, an American professional basketball player for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League.
- Christopher Roefer, a professional ice hockey player based in the United States.
- Jake Roefer, an American stunt performer and actor who has appeared in several films.