Surname Siegfried - Meaning and Origin

A Trip Down Memory Lane: The Emotional Awakening Through iGENEA's DNA Test

An emotional journey through time using iGENEA unveiled the centuries-old lineage of the surname 'Siegfried'. The experience stirred diverse emotions as it challenged preconceived self-identities, nurturing a deep sense of belonging, instilling pride in one's heritage, and engendering reflection on family, nationality, and personal legacy.

E. Siegfried

Siegfried: What does the surname Siegfried mean?

The last name ‘Siegfried’ is a Germanic name originating from the Old High German ‘sigi’ meaning ‘victory’, and ‘fridu’ meaning ‘peace’. Literally translated, the name Siegfried means ‘victory peace’. It can also be interpreted as ‘victorious’ or ‘conquering peace’.

Siegfried is a popular name and it is best known from the medieval German heroic legend of the same name. In the story, Siegfried is a warrior of great strength and courage who challenges dragons and other mythical beasts. He is known for his courage and wisdom in battle, his nobility and devotion to his lady love, and his honourable death.

The first recorded use of the name in the form of ‘Sigefridi’ was dated 1075, and it's believed that the name was first used by the Normans after their conquest of England. The Germanic form of the name ‘Siegfried’ would have been popularized by the stories of Siegfried the dragon slayer in Northern France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The name ‘Siegfried’ has been adopted by families the world over with variations such as ‘Sieglinde’ and ‘Siegmund’, as well as anglicized versions such as ‘Sigfred’ and ‘Sigvard’. The name continues to be associated with the values of strength, courage and honour in battle, and devotion to one’s beloved.

Siegfried: Where does the name Siegfried come from?

The last name Siegfried is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It likely originates from the Germanic personal name Sigifrid. This was derived from two elements, "sigu", which means success or victory, and "frid" which stands for peace. The name Siegfried was popularized in Germany during the 10th and 11th centuries, and was brought to England in the 12th century by Anglo-Saxon settlers.

Siegfried is derived from the Old High German “sigu”, which has roots in Old Norse, meaning “victory”, and “frid” meaning “peace”. This specific name found popularity in Germanic locations like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and is still popular there today. It is assumed that the name traces back to Anglo-Saxon immigration from the 12th century, where it was later found in English records.

The last name Siegfried is still very common in Germany today. Internal residence studies from 2018 indicated that the name was one of the fifteen most popular family names in Germany, with 83,630 holders of the name recorded. Austria and Switzerland both also had high numbers of people with this last name, with 8,917 recorded in Austria and 8,866 recorded in Switzerland in 2008.

Variations of the surname Siegfried

The spelling and surname variants of Siegfried are numerous, though the origin of the name remains consistent.

Siegfried is a German name typically derived from Old High German Sieg “victory” and frid “peace”. Variants including its spelling variations such as Siegfried, Sigfried, Sigfrid, Sigfrida, Sigfrit, and Seigfreid, as well as patronymic surnames derived from it exist. Examples of these surnames include Sie(e)gfro(o)d, Sie(e)gfried, Sigfridson, Siegfridt, and Ziegfrid(o). Other surnames like Siegfrid, Sigfrido, Sigfriet, Sifra, and Sifri are also common.

Given the popularity of the name Siegfried, it has evolved and adapted to other languages and cultures as well. This has resulted in numerous surnames being derived from its variants. For example, variants of the name in French, Polish, and Dutch resulted in such surnames as Sifren, Siffrine, Cyprian, and Zegers, respectively.

Overall, the name Siegfried has numerous variants and spellings, with an impressive level of variation across cultures and languages. Despite these many variations, they all carry the same original meaning of victory and peace, reflecting its Germanic origin.

Famous people with the name Siegfried

• David Siegfried, former National Hockey League (NHL) player from the United States.
• Roy Horn, German-American entertainer and half of the duo Siegfried & Roy.
• Siegfried Fischbacher, German-American entertainer and creator of trick and illusionist acts, and second half of the duo Siegfried & Roy.
• Siegfried Passarge, German geographer and cartographer.
• Siegfried Lenz, German author and fellow of the Berlin Academy of Arts.
• Alexander Siegfried, 19th-century German opera composer.
• Siegfried Othmer, clinical neurophysiologist and the co-founder of the EEG Institute.
• Siegfried Sassoon, English poet, writer, and soldier during the First World War.
• Siegfried Wolf, businessman and co-founder of German automotive parts supplier Magna International.
• Siegfried Werner, German actor and voice actor.

Other surnames

SiegfriedsenSiegfriedt