Surname Humphreys - Meaning and Origin

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F. Humphreys

Humphreys: What does the surname Humphreys mean?

The surname Humphreys is of Old French origin mainly found in Wales and parts of England. Originally a given name, it evolved into a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the father’s name, and often adding an s meaning ‘son of.’ Therefore, Humphreys can be translated to ‘son of Humphrey.’ The name Humphrey itself is derived from the Old German elements "hun" meaning "bear cub, warrior" and "frid" or "fred" meaning "peace," hence, the complete interpretation is something akin to "peaceful warrior." This surname has different variations such as Humphries, Humphrys, and Humphreys, among others. The name became popular in the medieval period, particularly in honor of St. Humphrey, a 9th-century bishop. Notable people with this surname include actors Lauren Bacall (born Betty Joan Perske) and her second husband Jason Robards (Jason Nelson Robards Jr.), both of whose fathers were named Humphrey. Other famous bearers include the professor and LGBTQ rights advocate Laud Humphreys and the British historian David Humphreys.

Humphreys: Where does the name Humphreys come from?

The surname Humphreys is of Welsh origin and it is derived from the Old German personal name Hunfrid or Humfrid, meaning "Peaceful Warrior". It was initially given as a baptismal name before evolving into a family name.

The popular Welsh surname is formed from the elements 'hun' meaning bear cub, warrior or prince and 'frid' or 'fred' meaning peace. The name arrived in Wales with the Norman settlers and became very popular, remaining so today.

The Humphreys name is common in England and Wales, particularly in the latter where it is the 73rd most common surname. In the United States, where many Welsh people emigrated, it is also quite prevalent. The 2010 census listed it as the 513th most common surname. The surname Humphreys is less common in Scotland and Ireland.

It should be noted that varied spellings of this surname exist, largely due to the illiteracy of people in the past and the phonetic spelling of names, so Humphrey, Humphreys, Humphries and Humphris could potentially be the same family name.

Variations of the surname Humphreys

The surname Humphreys has numerous variants and spellings which can be attributed to changes in pronunciation over time or due to regional accents and spelling preferences.

Variants and alternative spellings include Humphrey, Humphries, Humfreys, Humfress, Humphery and its patronymic form Humpherson. Some people may also use the shortened version, Humps, as a nickname or as a less formal version of the surname.

In terms of surnames of the same origin, the surname Humphreys is Welsh and derives from the Old French personal name Humfrey, introduced to Britain by the Normans. It is composed of the Germanic elements hun, meaning ‘bear cub’, and frid or fred, meaning ‘peace’. So, the similar derived surnames can be Humphery and Humphry.

Another related surname is Humphris, which is the Middle English variant of Humphrey. Also, sometimes the prefixes "ap" or "ab" (meaning "son of" in Welsh) might be added to the name, forming the variant Ap Humphrey or Ab Humphrey. However, these prefixes have mostly fallen out of use in modern times.

Remember, the spelling and pronunciation of surnames can vary widely between different regions and over different time periods.

Famous people with the name Humphreys

• Hubert Humphrey: Hubert Humphrey was an American politician and the 38th Vice President of the United States from 1965 to 1969. He was previously a U.S. Senator from Minnesota and is the Democratic Party's most recent candidate to lose a Presidential election.
• Humphrey Bogart: Humphrey Bogart was a legendary American actor who appeared in classics like 'Casablanca' and 'The Maltese Falcon'.
• Harry Humphreys: Harry Humphreys is a retired professional footballer who represented several clubs in England, including West Bromwich Albion.
• Betsy Humphreys: Betsy Humphreys is an American librarian, director of the National Library of Medicine and the Deputy Librarian of Congress.
• Thomas Humphreys: Thomas Humphreys was a prominent politician in New Jersey during the American Revolution.
• Rona C. Humphreys: Rona C. Humphreys is an American politician and public servant, serving as the first female African American police chief for the Detroit Police Department.
• Buster Humphreys: Buster Humphreys is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented Leeds, Salford and St Helens.
• Stephen Humphreys: Stephen Humphreys is an Irish actor, best known for his roles in movies such as 'What We Did on Our Holiday', and the TV series 'Catastrophe'.
• Jenna Humphreys: Jenna Humphreys is a Canadian actress and dancer, best known for her role as Rhonda in the television show 'Degrassi Junior High'.
• John Humphreys: John Humphreys is a British journalist, radio and TV personality, best known as a long-standing presenter on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme.

Other surnames

HumphreyHumphreyville