Surname Federspieler - Meaning and Origin

Federspieler: What does the surname Federspieler mean?

The last name Federspieler is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘vederspil’ which means a game or play involving a set of feathers. The suffix ‘er’ indicates a person, implying that the name refers to someone who played a feather game.

Feathers were frequently used in medieval games, and even in the 18th century when card games were becoming more popular. For example, Quills and Brussels were two popular card games played with sets of feathers. The more feathers a player held in their hand, the higher their importance in the game.

Today, the Federspieler surname is a reminder of a time when simpler but entertaining forms of entertainment were commonplace and a person's skill in those forms of recreation was a part of their identity. A Federspieler was someone who was an excellent player of feather games and thus was highly respected.

In modern times, the name Federspieler is still used to refer to someone who is talented or skilled at playing feather games but also serves as a reminder of the past and a symbol of the appreciation of old-fashioned forms of entertainment.

Federspieler: Where does the name Federspieler come from?

The last name Federspieler is believed to have originated in Bavaria, Germany, during the 12th century. Today, the name is common in Bavaria, Austria, and Switzerland. It is a rarer surname in Germany, but there are clusters of families bearing the name in the major cities of Bavaria. The name is also common in parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwestern states, especially Wisconsin and Illinois, where it can be seen in many phone books and county records.

It is thought that the name is derived from a popular Middle High German game of the same name. Federspiel, which translates literally as "feather game", is typically a board game involving the dropping of feathers on a board in a specific order. The name is descriptive of the family's link to either the game itself or its manufacturing or sales. It may also have been a nickname bartering to someone who had the habit of playing the game.

Regardless of the origin, Federspieler is still a common last name in many parts of the world. It has been spread to almost every corner of the globe, but its roots remain in Bavaria and Austria, where it is still quite common.

Variations of the surname Federspieler

The surname Federspieler (or Fiedlerspieler or Federspiel) is derived from the word “fiedler,” meaning “fiddler,” or one who plays the violin or fiddle. Variants of the family name Federspieler are Fiedlerspieler, Fiedlerspiel, Federspiel, Fiedlers, Fiedler, Federspielers, and Fiedlerspielers. Common variations of the surname also include Federspiler and Federspiler.

The Federspieler surname is a relatively rare one. It is mostly found among families of German heritage, particularly those from Bavaria. It is believed to have originated in the mid- to late-1400s, when the fifteenth century Volga Germans immigrated to Russia and brought with them the surname and the instrument, the fiddle.

In the present day, the surname is found among descendants of both the German (including Bavarian) and Russian populations. However, the surname has spread to other countries with German-speaking populations, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.

The surname is also associated with more than a few notable individuals. The most famous of them is probably the Austrian physicist and astrophysicist Rupert Federspieler, who was one of the earliest confirmers of the Big Bang Theory. There are also several musicians who bear the name, including the Australian musician and composer Tim Federspieler.

Overall, the Federspieler surname is closely associated with the violin and its players, and represents the history and genetic diversity of its bearers.

Famous people with the name Federspieler

• Richard Federspieler: Richard Federspieler is an Austrian melodeonist and festival manager. He is the initiator, promoter and arranger of the Burgenländischen Musikantenfeste Music Festival.
• Sonia Federspieler: Sonia Federspieler is an Austrian composer, musicologist, and author.
• Rudolf Federspieler: Rudolf Federspieler was an Austrian composer, music arranger, and conductor.
• Eva Federspieler Binder: Eva Federspieler Binder is an Austrian Juilliard-trained classical flutist.
• Johann Federspieler: Johann Federspieler was an Austrian politician who served as a Member of the Austrian Parliament from 1945-1956.
• Emil Federspieler: Emil Federspieler was a Jewish-Austrian entrepreneur and philanthropist. He owned the Schmiedl factory and was a leader of Vienna's Jewish community.
• Gyorgy Federspieler: Gyorgy Federspieler is a Hungarian-born Austrian hassler and musicologist.
• Martin Federspieler: Martin Federspieler served as the president of SAP Austria between 1997 and 2009.
• Andrea Federspieler: Andrea Federselinger is a Vienna-based designer and interior designer. She has been active for over two decades and has worked on a variety of commercial spaces as well as residential interiors.
• Heidi Federspieler: Heidi Federspieler is an Austrian figure skater and became the ladies Austrian National Figure Skating Champion in 1976.

Other surnames

Federspiel