PLAYFAIR
Playfair
The surname Playfair is a distinguished Scottish name with noble origins. Derived from the Old French word "plessier" meaning 'a maker or seller of pleats', it suggests an association with the textile industry or possibly a plaisterer or plasterer.
The first recorded instance of the Playfair name was in the 13th century in Scotland, with the earliest known spelling variations including Playfair, Playfare, Playfer, and Playferd. The name is mainly found in the regions of Fife, Aberdeenshire, and Angus, pointing to its Scottish heritage.
Notable bearers of the Playfair surname include Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair (1786–1861), a British diplomat and colonial administrator, and his son Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair (1818–1898), a distinguished chemist and politician. The Playfair family crest features a rising eagle with wings displayed, a symbol of strength and vigilance.
The Playfair name has spread beyond Scotland and the United Kingdom, with individuals bearing this surname found in various parts of the world due to migration and the global diaspora of Scottish families. Today, the Playfair surname continues to be respected and revered, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this ancient Scottish family line.
There are approximately 342 people named Playfair in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around five in a million people in Britain are named Playfair.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Charles
- David
- Derek
- Edward
- Guy
- James
- John
- Michael
- Richard
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Ag
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Karen
- Katherine
- Margaret
- Sarah
- Susan
- Vera