Gender Masculine
Pronounced Pron. JEHF-ree(English) ZHAW-FREH(French)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

From a Norman French form of a Frankish name. The second element is Old German fridu "peace", while the first element could be *gautaz "Geat" (a North Germanic tribe), gawi "territory" or walah "foreigner". It is possible that two or more names merged into a single form. In the later Middle Ages Geoffrey was further confused with the distinct name Godfrey.

The Normans introduced this name to England where it became common among the nobility. Famous medieval literary bearers include the 12th-century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth and the 14th-century poet Geoffrey Chaucer, writer of The Canterbury Tales. By the end of the Middle Ages it had become uncommon, but it was revived in the 20th century, often in the spelling Jeffrey.

Related Names

VariantsJeffery, Jeffrey, Jeffry, Geffrey, Godfrey(English) Geoffroy, Godefroy, Joffrey(French)
DiminutivesGeoff, Jeff, Jep(English)
Other Languages & CulturesJofre(Catalan) Godfried(Dutch) Gottfried(German) Gaufrid, Gautfrid, Godefrid, Walahfrid(Germanic) Gofraidh, Séafra, Siothrún(Irish) Goffredo, Fredo(Italian) Geoffroi(Medieval French) Gjord, Gjurd(Medieval Scandinavian) Godtfred(Norwegian) Guðfrøðr, Guðrøðr(Old Norse) Godofredo(Portuguese) Goraidh(Scottish Gaelic) Godofredo(Spanish) Gottfrid(Swedish) Sieffre(Welsh)

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   wholesome   strong   refined   strange   complex   serious  

Images

17th-century depiction of Geoffrey Chaucer17th-century depiction of Geoffrey Chaucer

Categories

Entry updated December 7, 2022