Surname Falten - Meaning and Origin
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Falten: What does the surname Falten mean?
The last name Falten is of German-Jewish origin, and it is derived from the Middle High German word “faltan” which means “to fold.” This name is likely to have been adopted by someone who was a tailor or seamstress, or someone who was employed to fold or work with fabric. It is also possible that it was adopted by someone who made wagons, or was in the business of folding and oiling paper, which was a highly valued skill in medieval Germany.
In more recent times, the name has come to signify an individual or family with a high degree of integrity and responsibility, as this sort of trade would have required sustained and committed attention to detail. It can also suggest a certain level of social status, as those involved in these occupations would have had an established presence in their communities.
Today, there are a few variations of the name, such as Falton and Faltens, whilst Falten is the most common spelling. The name is fairly widespread, with individuals with the surname in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United States, and Canada, as well as many other countries. It is, however, most common in Germany, where it originates.
Order DNA origin analysisFalten: Where does the name Falten come from?
The last name Falten is found most commonly in German-speaking countries, particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but it is also seen in some other countries, including the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada. The name originates from the German word ‘falter,’ which means a butterfly.
Within Germany, the name Falten has been most common in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where it is currently the 3,128th most popular surname. In Austria, it is the 808th most common, while in Switzerland it sits as the 4,254th most popular surname. In the Netherlands, Falten is the 19,788th most popular surname, while in the United States it is the 61,797th most popular surname.
The United States has the largest population of any Falten-surnamed individuals, with people with this name spread throughout the country, from California to Wisconsin. There is a particularly large concentration of Falten individuals in the states of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In Canada, Falten is not a particularly common last name. According to the 2006 census there were just 238 individuals with this surname in the whole of Canada, placing it as the 14,406th most common surname in the country.
Variations of the surname Falten
The surname Falten is of German origin and means 'one who lives among the firs'. It is also sometimes spelled as Faltan, Faulten, Feltyn and Falting.
Variations of the surname Falten include Feltens, Feltenschmidt, Feltman, Feltmann, Feltyier, Volting, Folting, Voltung, Voltangen, Voltanski and Foltner.
In some cases, the surname has been recorded with German regional dialects variations of the name including Falatens, Fahlten, Veltens, Feldens, Feltens and Velten.
Variations of the name have been recorded from all over the German-speaking regions, typically in the northern Rhineland, where it is believed to have originated.
The variations of the Falten and Faltan spelling are particularly common in the United States. The name was adopted by immigrants to the United States from many different parts of Germany. Some of the more common forms in America are Faltan, Falting, Faulten, Foltner, and Feltman.
Occasionally, the surname has also been recorded with the spelling Faltin in East Prussia. The spelling Feltmann is more common in the Wurttemberg and Baden regions of Germany.
In Germany and Austria, combinations of Faltan or Falten surnames are quite common, such as Faltanner, Falltenbacher and Falltenschuster. In Switzerland, the name is most frequently encountered in the Baden region.
In conclusion, the surname Falten is a German surname of occupational origin, meaning 'one who lives among the firs'. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Feltens, Faltan, Faulten, Feltyn, Falting, Feltenschmidt, Feltman, Feltmann, Feltyier, Volting, Folting, Foltner, Faltatens, Fahlten, Veltens, Feldens, Voltung, Voltangen, Voltanski, Faltin, Feltmann, Faltanner, Falltenbacher and Falltenschuster.
Famous people with the name Falten
- Herbert Falten: Austrian skier who competed in two Winter Olympics.
- Wilma Falten: former female Austrian alpine skier.
- Johannes Falten: Swiss baroque composer, organist, and director of music in Zürich.
- Norbert Falten: Austrian bulgarianist and slavist, professor emeritus of the University of Vienna.
- Georg Falten: Austrian slavologist and turkologist, professor at the University of Vienna.
- Herrmann Falten: German molecular biologist
- Helga Falten: Austrian jurist and politician
- Franz Falten: German socialist and revolutionary
- Eugen Falten: Austrian composer and teacher
- Franz Falten-Schwendt: German officer and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross