Surname Feddersen - Meaning and Origin

Feddersen: What does the surname Feddersen mean?

The last name, Feddersen, is believed to be of Danish origin and is a popular surname in northern Germany and Denmark. It is derived from the Germanic personal name ‘Frid’ which means ‘peaceful ruler’ and ‘sen’ which means ‘son’. This combination gave rise to the surname ‘Feddersen’, which can mean ‘son of the peaceful ruler’.

The name is found in many areas of northern Germany, such as Schleswig-Holstein, the areas of the former districts of Kiel and Schleswig. It is also found in certain parts of Denmark, particularly on the islands of Fanø, Læsø and Mandø in the southern part of the country.

The Feddersen family name is very old and it is possible to trace the line of the family back many centuries. Many famous figures have been born with the Feddersen name. Examples include the Danish composer and orchestra conductor Carl August Feddersen (1902–1970), the German actress Stephanie Feddersen (1943–2019) and the Danish botanist, Joseph Feddersen (1734–1815).

The meaning of the Feddersen surname suggests someone born of a strong, capable and respected leader. The name could denote qualities of strength - particularly in terms of being a father or leader - but could also represent the values of peace, justice and fairness. In today’s world, the increasing number of Feddersen families indicate that the values and qualities associated with the name are still being appreciated and carried on.

Feddersen: Where does the name Feddersen come from?

The last name Feddersen is found most commonly in Northern Germany, especially in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. It is believed that the name first appeared in the area around Schleswig in the 13th century, likely derived from the Old German name "Fadri".

In the mid-1800s, there was a diaspora of Germans from Northern Germany due to war and religious persecution. Subsequently, this spread the last name even further, mostly throughout Europe and North America.

Today, Feddersen is still found mainly in Northern Germany and the surrounding areas. It is also quite common in North America, particularly in Canada, where the name is found in Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec. In the United States, it is surprisingly most common in Arizona and California.

Although the origins are unclear, the last name Feddersen is now found all over the world. It is one of the oldest known Germanic names, and its prevalence in multiple countries is a testament to the power of migration and international travel.

Variations of the surname Feddersen

Feddersen is a surname of German, Danish or Dutch origin. It is most commonly spelled Feddersen, but alternative spellings exist. These include Federsen, Fetter, Fiedler, Fetterling, Fedderson, Feldersen, Feddorsen, Fedders, Feddern and Fedderson.

Variants of this surname also exist. These include Ferdersen, Federsen, Fiedersen, Fiersen, Fordsen and Fydersen.

Surnames with the same origin as Feddersen are Feddersen-Gudlaugson, Federspiel, Fetters, Fiedler-Ostendorf, Fettschen, Fetterhoff, Fedders, Felferding, Fedders-Gillessen, Felderson, Feddorsen, Feddern-Hoffmann and Feddersen-Jensen.

These surnames have different ranges of the same root element; 'Feder', 'Fett' or 'Feld'. The meaning of the various versions of this surname in the German language can be interpreted as follows: 'Feder' meaning 'feather, 'Fett' meaning 'fat' or 'grease, 'Feld' meaning 'field'.

The geographical origin of the name is Northern Europe. The Feddersens surname first appeared in the Middle Ages in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. A number of bearers of the surname originally settled in other parts of the world, for example the United States, Australia, Canada, and Scotland around the 17th and 18th centuries. They adopted different spellings and variants of their surname when abroad.

Famous people with the name Feddersen

• Alexandra Feddersen: is a german actress, known for her roles in movies such as Lola rennt, Hell and Goodbye Lenin.
• Catherine Feddersen: is a german mezzo-soprano and musician, known for performing in several operas and recitals.
• Hans-Wilhelm Feddersen: is a german chemist, known for his research on industrial catalysis.
• Marcus Feddersen: is a german comedian, known for works such as Der Feddersen und die Liebe and Blaumacher.
• Peter Feddersen: is a former danish footballer, who played in the danish Premier League with Aalborg BK.
• Jan Feddersen: is a cricket umpire from Germany, who officiated in the 2018 European Championship.
• Lena Feddersen: is a german freestyle skier, who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
• Jenny Feddersen: is a german foil fencer, who won the bronze medal in the 2016 World Championships in fencing.
• Timo Feddersen: is a german rower, who competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
• Helmut Feddersen: is a german writer and journalist, known for several books on topics such as the history of fascism.

Other surnames

Fedders