Telfer is a surname, principally of Scottish origin, with the name deriving from Taille-fer (see: Taillefer), the Old French nickname for a strong man or ferocious warrior (taille(r) meaning 'to cut').[1] It is sometimes linked with the surname Telford, although the two names have distinct and unrelated origins.
It is the surname of:
- Alexander Telfer-Smollett (1884–1954), British army officer and politician
- Bob Telfer, Scottish-Australian soccer player, referee, coach and administrator
- Cece Telfer, American transgender athlete
- Charlie Telfer (born 1995), Scottish footballer
- Chris Telfer, American politician and accountant
- Colin Telfer (born 1947), Scottish rugby union player
- David Telfer (born 1988), Ghanaian footballer
- Don Telfer (born 1961), Canadian rower
- Evelyn Telfer, Scottish biologist and professor
- Garry Telfer (1965–2007), Scottish footballer
- George Telfer (born 1955), English footballer
- Ian Telfer, Canadian mining executive
- Jay Telfer (1947–2009), Canadian musician and songwriter
- Jim Telfer (born 1940), Scottish rugby union player and coach
- John Telfer (1873–1938), British auctioneer and philatelist
- Margaret Alison Telfer (1904–1974), Australian university administrator
- Michelle Telfer (born 1974), Australian former gymnast
- Nancy Telfer (born 1950), Canadian choral conductor, composer and educator
- Paul Telfer (actor) (born 1979), Scottish actor
- Paul Telfer (footballer) (born 1971), Scottish footballer
- Richard J. Telfer, American educator
- Robert Sutherland Telfer, American actor
- Ryan Telfer (born 1994), Trinidad and Tobago footballer
- Wendy Frew (née Telfer, born 1984), New Zealand netball player
- William Telfer, multiple people