Surname Legoff - Meaning and Origin
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Legoff: What does the surname Legoff mean?
Legoff is a French surname that originated in Brittany, France. The name is predominantly seen in the region of the westernmost peninsula of France. It is derived from the old Breton terms "leg" which means "dwelling" and "go" or "goff" which means "smith." Hence, this surname literally translates to "the dwelling of the smith." In its original usage, it was likely an occupational name for a blacksmith or perhaps for someone who lived near the blacksmith’s dwelling. Over time, the surname Legoff spread to other parts of France and the world due to migration. Surnames often provide intriguing historical information about family lineages and Legoff is no exception. Despite its specific meaning, it does not necessarily indicate that each bearer of the surname Legoff or their ancestors were blacksmiths, as surnames can be acquired in several ways. For instance, it could also have been a locational surname if an individual lived near a smith’s premises.
Order DNA origin analysisLegoff: Where does the name Legoff come from?
The surname Legoff is primarily of French origin. It can be traced back to the medieval times in Brittany in the northwest part of France. The name is derived from the old Breton personal name "Le Goff," which means "smith," therefore, indicating that the original bearers of the name were likely blacksmiths by trade.
Though the surname Legoff began in France, due to historical reasons like migration, war, and trade, the surname is not restricted solely to France. Like many European surnames, it has spread to different parts of the world over centuries. Today, apart from its prevalence in France, it can also be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom among others. However, even though it spread worldwide, it is not particularly common in any location, and it is considered a relatively rare surname globally. Lots of regional and spelling variations of the name exist like Legouffe, Legoux, Legros, Legoult, and Legore, among others.
Variations of the surname Legoff
The surname Legoff has its roots in France and is often seen with different variants and spellings due to regional variations, historical changes, and phonetical translations. Some surnames of the same origin include Le Goff, LeGoff, Legouffe, Goff, Legof, Gof, Goffe, and Gouffe.
Le Goff is the most common variant of the name, predominantly found in Brittany, France. The surname has also been anglicized in different regions as Goff when French families migrated to English-speaking countries. Legouffe and Gouffe offer slightly different variations on the surname and are often considered extensions of Legoff.
It's also important to understand that these names struck root in different regions at different times, which resulted in various spelling changes due to the phonetic sounds in the local dialects. Therefore, it's not uncommon to see similar variations with only slight alterations like Legof or even LeGoff.
There are also plausible connections with other related surnames like Goffin, Goffinet, Goffard, and Goffaux, which may have similar regional and phonetic roots as Legoff. However, relationships with these surnames should be validated through genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Legoff
- Sylvain Legoff, French volleyball player
- Henry Legoff, French singer-songwriter
- Maxime Legoff, French actor
- Lionel Legoff, French film director
- Yves Legoff, French film director
- Ultan Legoff, Irish professional rugby union player
- Ryan Legoff, Irish composer and producer
- Tol Legoff, American entrepreneur
- Anshel Legoff, American television producer
- André Legoff, French philosopher, writer and academic