Surname Thafer - Meaning and Origin

Thafer: What does the surname Thafer mean?

The last name Thafer is of German-Swiss origin and is an occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'taveler', which translates to 'weaver' or 'fabric maker'. Those with this surname are descended from weavers who originally lived in Switzerland and the German Rhineland area. This is evident as the name was found particularly in the Palatine, southern Bavaria, and Alsace-Lorraine regions.

The surname would have likely arisen as a way to differentiate between weavers living in the same area. As is common for occupational names, many variants of Thafer were created – including Thaefert, Thaefer, Thaver, Thievre, and Thivier.

In addition, Thafer is a variant of the very common German name ‘Tafer’, which is derived from the word ‘daifer’, which in turn comes from the Middle High German word ‘tappen’. This word translated to ‘tap’ and may have referred to a person who made devices such as needles or other small metal items – such as awls and cooking implements. Its use in this context is likely the origin of the meaning of ‘Thafer’.

Over time, many of these variants have modified and changed in spelling according to the local dialect and culture of the area. Despite this, the original meaning of the name is still evident, thereby paying tribute to the weavers and metalworkers that held such an important role in medieval Swiss and German life.

Thafer: Where does the name Thafer come from?

The last name Thafer is most commonly found today in North Africa and the Middle East. The name is thought to have its roots in the Ancient Middle East, and was brought to North Africa with the many migrations in the region over the centuries. It is most commonly found in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, where it is one of the most common surnames in those countries. It is also found in Iran, Jordan, Oman, Algeria, and Turkey.

In Europe, the surname is found in Germany, France, and Spain, likely transported there by immigrants from the Middle East during the 20th century. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the states of California, Florida, Illinois, and New York, as many people of Middle Eastern descent have settled there in recent years. It is also found in Canada, Columbia, Australia, and South Africa.

Overall, the last name Thafer is most commonly found in North Africa and the Middle East, though it is also found in other parts of the world due to the historic migrations of people from this region.

Variations of the surname Thafer

The surname Thafer has variations in spelling, as well as different surname forms of the same origin. Most common variants and surnames related to Thafer include Thaefer, Thäfer, Thäffer, Thayer, Tafer, Taffer, Thaifir, Tharier, Thayir, Thayir, Thayyer, Tafer, Thaifar, Tifar, Tuefer and Tyfer.

Thaefer is the original German form of the name and is derived from the medieval given name Thiel, meaning “people,” combined with fari meaning “man.” The spelling variations Thaefer, Thäfer, Thäffer are thought to be derived from the German spoken areas of Thuringia, Hesse, and Bavaria.

The surname Thayer is a Swiss variant that is likely derived from the Old German given Thayo, which means “people,” combined with -har meaning, “man.” The spelling variation Tafer is likely derived from Bavarian and Austrian variations of the Old German given name Tadimir, which combines tidu, meaning “people,” with meri, meaning “famous.”

The surname Taffer is an English variant derived from the Old French given name Thibal, which means “determined.” The surname Thaifar is derived from a Turkish variation of the name Thayyar, which is most likely derived from the Arabic root thayiban, meaning “good.” The controversial surname Tharier is likely derived from the Germanic given name Thierry, which is said to be derived from a common Germanic root thiud meaning “people” combined with ric meaning “ruler” or “prince.”

The surname Thayir is likely derived from the Arabic root thayir, which means “olive” or “charitable.” The Spanish surname Thayyer is derived from the Old German given name Thibewald, which combines thiud, meaning “people,” with wald meaning “to rule.” The surnames Tifar and Tyfer are derived from the Middle High German given name Tifan, which may have meant “gift of God.” The surname Tuefer is derived from the Middle Low German given Ttheo, which is derived from the Old German given Theudow, meaning “people” combined with vart meaning “frontier.”

Famous people with the name Thafer

• Abid Thafer: Tunisian footballer
• Mohamed Thafer: Former president of the Algerian Football Federation
• Ahmed Thafer: Tunisian politician
• Mahmoud Thafer: Jordanian Politician
• Isam Thafer: Lebanese top-level footballer
• Michael Thafer: Actor, known for "Teen Wolf Too"
• Salim Thafer: Kuwaiti footballer
• Hussein Thafer: Former Iraqi Minister of Education
• Rafat Thafer: Palestinian sculptor
• Riyad Thafer: Egyptian footballer
• Ali Thafer: Yemeni footballer
• Ehab Thafer: Jordanian footballer
• Hisham Thafer: Jordanian footballer
• Paul Thafer: German football manager
• Ali Thafer: GWU Men's Soccer Coach

Other surnames

ThafeerThafeir