Effingham

Effingham is a surname of Old English origin, derived from a place name. The name is a compound of the Old English personal name 'Eoffa' (a short form of a name beginning with 'Eof-') and '-ingaham'. The suffix '-ing' typically denotes 'people of' or 'belonging to', and 'ham' means 'homestead' or 'village'. Therefore, the name literally means 'the homestead of Eoffa's people'.

The place name Effingham exists in Surrey, England, and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Efingehant'. Over time, this place name became a hereditary surname, particularly for families originating from or associated with the village. The surname then occasionally transitioned into a given name, though it remains much rarer as a first name than as a surname.