Surname Standifer - Meaning and Origin

Standifer: What does the surname Standifer mean?

The surname Standifer is of English origin. However, its exact meaning is not definitively known. Like many surnames, Standifer is likely geographical or occupational in nature. It may derive from an old English term relating to 'stand' or 'stand by', possibly indicating a family who lived by a significant landscape feature or the profession of a sentinel or guard. It's also possible that this surname could be linked to a place named Stand, Standish or Stanford. Some sources suggest that it may come from "Stanford," a place name meaning "stone ford" in Old English.

Standifer might have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries due to regional dialects and translation between languages. Variations of the spelling over the years have included Standiford, Standiferd, and Standiforth among others. Despite many possible interpretations, the definitive meaning of this surname remains uncertain.

It’s important to note that surnames had significant sociocultural importance in historical times, and carried information about lineage, occupation, and place of origin. Although the specific meaning of Standifer may not be known, it's likely that the name carries a rich history, telling the story of the bearer’s ancestors.

Standifer: Where does the name Standifer come from?

The last name Standifer is most commonly found in the southern United States, especially in the states of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. The surname is also relatively common in other parts of the country, including Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

The Standifer surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin: it's thought to have originated in the small village of Standifer in Warwickshire, England. It is thought that the surname made its way to the United States during the 17th and 18th centuries, with individuals bearing the surname appearing in United States records in the 1700s and 1800s.

The earliest recorded Standifer in the United States was Stephen Standifer, a Pennsylvania Quaker. He is recorded as having come to America during the 1750s. During the 1840s, a number of Standifer families from Stewart County, Georgia moved to Alabama. Throughout the 19th century, a number of Standifers moved throughout the Deep South, settling not just in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, but also in Mississippi and South Carolina.

Today, the Standifer surname is relatively common across the south, particularly in the states mentioned above. It is a relatively rare surname in other parts of the country, though individuals bearing the name can be found in states such as Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, California, and New York.

Variations of the surname Standifer

Standifer is a relatively uncommon surname, largely found in the United States. Its variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin include Stanifar, Standifer, Stanifer, Stanifar, Staniford, Staniforth, Stanifur, Staniferd, Stanefere, Standiford, Standeford, Standenford, Standaffer, Standifur, Standifor, and Standifir.

The origins of all these surnames are closely related, and several of them have the same etymological roots. The name is derived from Old English and was spelled variously in historical records. The earliest record of Standifer is believed to be from Outside of Records in 1220. Additionally, Staniford appears in Kent in 1248, Staniferd in Berkshire in 1279, and Stanifur in Warwickshire in the year 1400.

By the 16th century, Standifer had become a popular name and had spread across various parts of the United States. Today, it is primarily found in the American South and is particularly common among African Americans.

Generally speaking, Stanifur and Staniferd are the closest variants to the original spelling of Standifer. However, other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin can also be found. For instance, Stanifar, Staniford, Staniforth, and Stanefere are all closely related, as are the other forms of Standifer.

Famous people with the name Standifer

• Lillian Standifer: Professional Baseball Player
• Xernona Clayton: Activist and Educator
• William Standifer: Professional Basketball Player
• April Standifer: Musician
• Donald Standifer: Producer and Director
• Jimmy Standifer: Radio DJ and Personality
• Alice Standifer: Actress
• Mark Standifer: Cartoonist and Illustrator
• Kimberly Standifer: Professional Climber
• Rebecca Standifer: Professional Wrestler

Other surnames

Standiford