Barfus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Barfus

What does the name Barfus mean?

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Barfus. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known as Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of East Prussia, which was located on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and was bordered by Poland and Lithuania, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Barfus family.

Early Origins of the Barfus family

The surname Barfus was first found in the Altmark, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. "Barfuesser," which means one who goes barefoot, was a label for the Franciscan order of monks; through their vow of poverty they would go without shoes and it gradually became a family name. The name belongs to an ancient noble family of the Altmark region just west of Brandenburg which gained power and influence throughout Germany. Ricolf Parfuse, for example, is shown to have been mayor of Cologne in 1216.

Early History of the Barfus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barfus research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1216, 1635, 1699 and 1704 are included under the topic Early Barfus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Barfus Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Barfus include Barfuss, Barfus, Barvot, Barfuesse, Parfus, Parfus and many more.

Early Notables of the Barfus family

Hans Albrecht von Barfus (1635-1704), who was a general field marshal in the Brandenburg army and a privy councilor at the court of Brandenburg...
Ricolf Barfuse was the mayor of Cologne in 1216...

Migration of the Barfus family

Since medieval times, the state of Prussia has played an important part in the history of Germany. The state's military powers were historically very strong, and endured until after the Second World War, when the territory was broken up and divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. A spurt of migration followed, with some Prussians going elsewhere in Europe and many others crossing the ocean to North America. Most entered the United States through Philadelphia. Some remained there, while more moved on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others traveled to Canada and settled Ontario and the prairie provinces. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Barfus or a variant listed above: Johann Georg Barfuss, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1752.