Surname Zarfos - Meaning and Origin
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Zarfos: What does the surname Zarfos mean?
Zarfos is a surname of Greek origin, thought to have first been recorded in the late 17th century. It is derived from the Greek word “zarfos”, meaning “gift” or “present”. It is likely that those who first took on this name were known for giving, or were recipients of, generous gifts.
In more recent times, the surname Zarfos has become spread throughout the world, with families with this name found in various countries and continents. The most common instance of this surname is found in the United States.
It is believed that the surname Zarfos was found in many different forms throughout its history. Some of these variations may have been Zariphos, Zarifos, Zarifis, Zarfis and Zarfopoulos. As a result of the variations in the spelling of the name, it often became difficult to identify individuals with the same family name as generations passed.
Today, most families named Zarfos have their own unique stories. Different branches of the family may have come from different areas of Greece, and some may have taken on the surname as a result of marriage or the adoption of a family name. It is this diversity in origin that makes the surname Zarfos so interesting to explore.
Order DNA origin analysisZarfos: Where does the name Zarfos come from?
The last name Zarfos is most commonly found among people hailing from Greek ancestry. It is believed to originate from the northern Greek region of Thrace and has been found in Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia. The most common occurrences of Zarfos are in Greece, especially on the namesake island of Euboea and other islands in the Greek Aegean.
The name is most commonly found in the United States, Australia, and Canada amongst those of Greek descent. In the U.S., those with the last name Zarfos are found in states with large communities of Greek immigrants, such as New Jersey, California, Florida, and Massachusetts. In particular, the majority of Zarfoses in the U.S. live around New York City and its tri-state area, making up a sizable part of the population in Astoria, Queens. Additionally, the name is quite widespread in the Australian city of Melbourne, due to the large number of Greek migrants in the area.
Though the surname is mostly concentrated in areas with large diasporas of fellow Greek origin, it is still relatively common in its native Greece as well. Overall, Zarfos is not a particularly rare or new surname in the world but it is certainly less ubiquitous than other, more common, Greek surnames.
Variations of the surname Zarfos
Zarfos is an unusual and ancient Greek surname with multiple variants. The most common spelling is Zarfas, with Zarfas also being a common surname in the United States. It may also be spelled as Zarpas, Zrapas, Zrapas, Zirpas, Tsaras, Tzaras, Tzaros, Tsaros, and Zaros. Zarfos is also connected to the surnames Zarfiotis, Zarphos, Zarpatze, Zorbas, and Zaras.
The surname Zarfos is believed to have originated from the Greek title Sarafis, which was first used to symbolise a Greek Duke, Saraphis of Monemvasia during the Byzantine dynasty. The title was then passed down to succeeding generations, and eventually evolved to become Zarfos.
The Zarfos surname is most commonly encountered in the Dodecanese Islands, located in the south Aegean Sea. It is also very common in Crete, where the surname Zarfos is an ancient one, and has been used since the 14th century.
The history of the family can be traced back to Greek-speaking areas within the former Byzantine Empire, and it has both Greek and Turkish origins. The Turkish variation of the surname Zarfos is Zarfalics and Zarfates.
Some famous individuals with the surname Zarfos include: Athina Zarfos, an actor from Greece; Stavros Zarfos, a famous Greek sculptor; Argyris Zargos, a Greek architect; and Haralambos Zarfos, a Greek writer.
Overall, Zarfos is a unique surname with many variants that trace it back to its Greek and Turkish origins, and its history can be found in the Dodecanese Islands and Crete, amongst other places. The surname is also associated with several famous individuals.
Famous people with the name Zarfos
- Yiannis Zarfos: a classically trained composer, conductor, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, from Sifnos, Greece.
- Theodora Zarfos: a Canadian-American philosopher and health care ethicist.
- Emma Zarfos: a former women’s soccer player who played for Georgetown University.
- Emmanuel Zarfos: a German philologist and educator
- Alexander Zarfos: a former banking executive and entrepreneur who currently resides in Greece.
- Rudy Zarfos: a Greek-American journalist, photographer, and filmmaker.
- Dimitrios Zarfos: a Greek entrepreneur who was recently named one of the world’s most influential people by Forbes Magazine.
- Danny Zarfos: a multi-award-winning musician, songwriter, and producer.
- Kimberly Zarfos: a television superstar, who’s starred in a variety of shows airing on networks such as ABC, NBC, and HGTV.
- Louie Zarfos: a retired baseball player who played for the California Angels and Oakland Athletics.