Surname Feild - Meaning and Origin
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Feild: What does the surname Feild mean?
The surname Feild is of English origin and it is a topographic name for someone who lived or worked on land that had been cleared of forest, but not brought into cultivation, deriving from the Old English "feld", which means "pasture" or "open country". In short, it is indicative of someone who either lived in or worked in such an area. Like many surnames that were derived from the names of occupations or locations, it is likely that the first people who bore the surname Feild had a strong connection with this type of landscape, either through their place of residence or through their profession. Notably, the use of 'ei' instead of 'ie' is less common and suggests a possible phonetic derivation from the original pronunciation. While this surname does have stance in the British Isles, it is also found in countries associated with the British diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisFeild: Where does the name Feild come from?
The surname Feild is of English origin, believed to have been derived from the Old English term "feld," meaning open or cleared land. It's likely that this surname was initially used as a topographic name for someone who lived or worked on such a land. Alternatively, it could have been a habitational name for someone from a place named with this word.
The changes in spelling over the centuries, including variations such as Field, ffyld, and Feild, are due to a lack of spelling rules in the Middle English language.
Today, this surname is found most commonly in the United States, England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. People with this last name can be found all over the world, but it is not particularly common in any one geographic location. Despite the different spellings that have been adopted over time and across different countries, the surname Feild and its variations still all reportedly originate from the same root.
Variations of the surname Feild
The surname Feild is a variation of the more widely recognized surname "Field." The altered spelling likely originated from a phonetic pronunciation of the name, possibly in a different dialect or language.
"Feild" is a rare surname, and its variations, including "Field," "Fields," "Feld," or "Fild," are more common. The "Field" surname is English in origin, stemming from someone residing near an open area of land or meadow, as the word "field" denotes in Old English.
Other related surnames might include those that stem from the ethnic variation of the term for a field or open space. This includes "Veld" (Dutch) and "Feldman" or "Feldmann" (German). The Irish variation "O'Duffy" is derived from the Gaelic Ó Dubhthaigh (descendant of the dark or black one), sometimes anglicized as Field due to phonetic similarities.
These variations are dependent on the geographical location and language from which they emerged. These surnames not only represent family lineage but often tell stories about a family's history, professions, or characteristics.
Famous people with the name Feild
- Mark Feild: British actor known for roles in movies such as The Limehouse Golem (2016).
- James Feild: Canadian actor known for roles in commercials and movies such as Operation Avalanche (2016).
- Sam Feild: English actor known for roles in the films That Good Night (2017) and The E-Word (2013).
- Charles Feild: American musician and producer known for his work with rock artists like Paul McCartney and Tom Petty.
- William Feild: English-Australian botanist and explorer who studied the flora of Australia and New Zealand.
- William Feild: American professional basketball player manager who coached the Seattle Supersonics and is a former NBA player.
- Sarah Feild: British figure skater and dance partner, who represented Great Britain in numerous international competitions.
- Karen Feild: Canadian figure skater who competed internationally from 1985 to 1991.
- Arthur Feild: British aerospace engineer and innovator responsible for aircraft design during World War II.
- Edward Feild: British clergyman, theologian, and academic who served as Bishop of Antigua and Primate of the West Indies.