Giff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Giff

What does the name Giff mean?

The distinguished German surname Giff is of two possible origins. Firstly, the name is derived from "Gifhorn," the name of a town in the region of Hanover. It was a common practice of the time to refer to a new resident of a city by the name of his hometown; thus, in this case, it is likely that the progenitor of the name was a native of Gifhorn who had settled in another city. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Old High German "geba," meaning "to give."

Early Origins of the Giff family

The surname Giff was first found in Lower Saxony, where the name is thought to have emerged. The young Giff family was instrumental during this period, playing a major role in the early history of the region and contributing greatly to the development of medieval German society.

Early History of the Giff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Giff research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1457, 1620, 1645, 1726, 1730, 1732, 1740 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Giff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Giff Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gift, Giff, Giffey, Giffen, Giffhorn, Gifhorn and others.

Early Notables of the Giff family

Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Giff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Giff family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Johann Mathias Gift and his three brothers, Johann Adam, Johann Nicolaus, and Johann Peter Gift, who emigrated from the Palatinate to Pennsylvania in 1750.

Contemporary Notables of the name Giff (post 1700) +

Patricia Reilly Giff (1935-2021), American author and teacher born in Brooklyn, New York, a Newbery Honor, ALA Best Book For Young Adults, and Christopher Award laureate