Surname Feingold - Meaning and Origin
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Feingold: What does the surname Feingold mean?
The last name Feingold is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname that is derived from the German word "Fein", which translates to "fine" or "refined". It is believed that this surname was taken on to denote someone who made their living by creating items of quality such as jewelry, ceramics, furniture and other items.
It is thought that the surname referred to members of the Jewish artisan or merchant class in medieval Germany, who had distinctive crafts or skills that could be used to produce luxury items. As such, it is possible that the name was originally a nickname given to someone who was particularly good at their craft.
The surname Feingold is more commonly found in Europe and in Jewish communities throughout the world. It is also found among Jewish families who have migrated to North America and Canada.
Feingold is not a particularly common surname, with relatively few people bearing this surname today. Nevertheless, those bearing this surname may take pride in knowing that their family has a long and distinguished lineage, traceable back to medieval Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisFeingold: Where does the name Feingold come from?
The last name Feingold is most common today in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and Germany. Feingold is, in fact, one of the top 1,000 most common surnames in the U.S., ranking at number 858 according to the 2019 Census.
The Feingold surname originated as an Ashkenazi Jewish name in Germany and is thought to mean "fine gold" in German. The popularity of the name today is mostly due to the influx of German immigrants coming into the US during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Feingold has spread to many different countries throughout the years and is the 12th most common last name in Israel. It ranks 156th in Germany, 5,636th in the United Kingdom, and is also found in Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, and Denmark.
Feingold is not a very common last name in the United States, but those who are named Feingold have arrived from a long line of people who all shared the same name and hardworking spirit. Feingolds are hardworking, creative people who have contributed to many different cultures around the world in various ways, from the arts and sciences to politics and industry.
Variations of the surname Feingold
The Feingold surname has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Feingold is a Jewish name and may have many spellings including Fayngold, Feingolde, Fein, Fain, Fangold, Fangle, Finhold, Finegold, Finkelstein, and Finkel. It was most commonly spelled Fein since that was how Yiddish words were adapted to English.
The name is thought to have originated with financial values and systems, specifically weight and measurement; The name was created to reflect a person whose wealth could be measured or compared. Other theories suggest that it was used to describe a person who stood out in financial prowess because of their gold, silver, or other precious metal dealings.
The Feingold surname is derived from the German word “fayngold” which means “fine gold”. This name was originally given to people who were wealthy, and had extensive resources and wealth. It is likely that those who bore this name would have had a lot of influence and power in the community.
The surname has spread all over the world, particularly to the United States, Israel, and Europe due to the emigration of Jews from Eastern Europe. It is somewhat common in the United States, especially amongst Ashkenazi Jewish families of Russian, German, or Polish origin.
One of the more modern adaptations of this surname is Feingold, with other variants including Fein, Faingold, Fangold, Fain, Finkel, Finkelstein, Finegold, and Finhold. Regardless of which spelling is used, the surname all has the same roots and ties to wealth, precious metals, and the Jewish culture.
Famous people with the name Feingold
- Russell Feingold: Politician and former US Senator from Wisconsin.
- Martin Feingold: Actor
- Andrew Feingold: Broadcaster
- Harold Feingold: Canadian Politician
- Samuel Feingold: American Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient
- Larry Feingold: Director of the National Association of Community Health Centers
- Richard Feingold: American judge
- Elaine Feingold: American theatre director
- Herbert Feingold: United Nations and international public relations consultant
- Joyce Feingold: Former chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission