A male name. the modern name Geoffrey, from Middle English Geffrey, Old French Geoffroi, Geuffroi, seems to represent two, if not three, Old German names, (1) Gaufrid, (2) Walahfrid, and possibly (3) Gisfrid. The second element in all of these is Old German frithu ‘peace’. The first element of Gaufrid is Gavja (mod German gau) ‘a district of land’; the first element of Walahfrid (gallicized to Gualafrid) is Valha ‘traveller’, and of Gisfrid, gis from the same root as gisel ‘pledge’. In early medieval Latin records traces of these origins are to be found; the name appears in many variants of three main forms Gaufridus, Galfridus, Goisfridus. Later come Geofridus, Joffridus, &c., a direct latinization of the current vernacular forms. In later times the name has been further confused with Godfrey (Godefridus) (q.v.), which during the Middle Ages was a quite separate name. Geoffrey was common in England from the 12th to 15th C, giving rise to many surnames, e.g. Geoffrey, Geoffreys, Jefferies, Jefferson, &.c.; Jeeves, Geve, Jephson, Jepson, &c., from the abbreviations Jeff, Geve; and Giffen, &c., from the abbreviation Giff. Geoffrey was rather uncommon from the 15th to 19th C. It has now once more come into favour. It seems not to have taken root in Scotland.

Gosfridus, Gaufridus Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum 1071-5. Goisfridus, Gaufridus Domesday Book 1086. Goffridus Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum 1087-97. Galfridus Hundred Rolls 1373. Geffrei Hundred Rolls 1273. Geffrey, Geffray Hundred Rolls 1273, Coventry Mysteries 15th C. Geve Hundred Rolls 1273. Geffrai Exchequer Rolls 1306.

Occasionally GEOFFROY. The former seems the more English, the latter a Gallicised form (Fr. Geoffroi) of a Teutonic compound (‘God’s peace’): but actually Geoffrey (-froy) is the Gallicised form of Godfrey or rather of its Teutonic original (Gottfrid, Gottfried). One naturally looks to see if so utterly fortunate a name—implying no fatalistic quietism but a suffusion by the inner light—has any notable religious associations: there are two canonized abbots and a saintly and most kindly bishop more usually remembered as St. Godfrey. (Benedictines.)

Some translate this name ‘God’s peace or joyful peace.’ The name has been corrupted from Galfrid, for Walfrid; from the Old German walt-frid, powerful protector. Chaucer’s Christian name is found written Gaufredus in Mediaeval Latin. The nickname is Jeff.

Teutonic (masculine) - Joyful peace.

A Teutonic name, meaning: God’s peace: peace with God.