Details for the forename Geoffrey

SEARCH FOR A PERSONAL NAME

Geoffrey (male)


Variants:	Galfredus (M) Galfrius (M) Gaufried (M) Geoffridus (M) Geoffroi (M) Goffredo (M) Goiridh (M) Gottfried (M) Sieffre (M) Siothrún (M)
Diminutive(s):	Geoff (M) Godofredo (M)
Pet Name(s):	Jeff (M)
Derivative(s):	Jefferson (M)
Lesser Synonym(s):	Godfrey (M)
Can be spelt:	Jeffery (M) Jeffrey (M)

Source(s):	English Parish Register freereg.rootsweb.com "Scottish Forenames" - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG
Notes:	Mainly English, of uncertain origin, introduced into Britain by the Normans. It is possibly from the Old German "good peace" [Whyte]. Alternatively it might be from a combination of names derived from Frankish German "territory" or "stranger" or "pledge" [ONC]. Geoffrey is sometimes identified with Godfrey [earlier forms were Gottfried or Gaufried] which is from a different Old German source. However we know of one case where the names are interchangeable so we have classed them here as lesser synonyms. In old Latin documents Galfrius or Galfredus were used to represent either Geoffrey or Godfrey; Geoffridus was used for Geoffrey. Jeffery and Jeffrey are spelling variants that date from the Middle Ages.