"Geoffrey" is a common English given name, commonly abbreviated as "Geoff". [1] Geoffrey originated from an Old French form of a Germanic name. Although the name's second element is "frid", meaning "peace", the first element of the name is disputed. Possible words that it originated from include "gawia" ("territory"), "walah" ("stranger"), "gisil" ("hostage") or "god". It is considered possible that more than one of these words were used as elements of the same name. If "god" was among them, "Geoffrey" would likely be related to the name "Godfrey". [2] Medieval variants on "Geoffrey" include "Jeffrey" and "Jeffery". [3][4] This form is still common in the United States, but is little known elsewhere.
The name was introduced to England by the Normans after William the Conquerer's conquest of England in 1066. It was particularly popular among English nobility. [5]
Famous Geoffreys
Among famous people named Geoffrey or Geoff are:
- Geoffrey of Anjou
- Geoff Bent
- Geoffrey Boycott
- Geoff Capes
- Geoffrey Chaucer
- Geoff Dixon
- Geoffrey the Giraffe
- Geoffrey Hayes from the TV programme Rainbow
- Geoff Howarth
- Geoff Hurst
- Geoffrey of Monmouth
- Geoff Morrell
- Geoff Murphy
- Geoff Rickly
- Geoff Tate
- Geoffrey Rush
- Geoff Thompson
- Geoffrey Wright
- The fictive land of Geoff from Gary Gygax's campaign setting of Greyhawk
References
- Campbell, Mike (2005). "Geoff". Retrieved Dec. 15, 2005.
- Campbell, Mike (2005). "Geoffrey". Retrieved Dec. 15, 2005.
- Campbell, Mike (2005). "Godfrey". Retrieved Dec. 15, 2005.
- Campbell, Mike (2005). "Jeffery". Retrieved Dec. 15, 2005.
- Campbell, Mike (2005). "Jeffrey". Retrieved Dec. 15, 2005.