Surname Feiß - Meaning and Origin

Feiß: What does the surname Feiß mean?

The last name Feiß is a German surname that is believed to have originated from Middle High German. Its literal translation is the word ‘Feuer’ which means ‘fire’ or ‘flame’, indicating that it was originated by a profession like blacksmith, or one who used fire for heating metals. It could also have originated from Middle High German ‘voi’ which was used to indicate the sound of a bird or animals during hunting. It can be used as a short version of names with ‘Feuer’ in them such as Feuerbach, Feuersinger, or Feuerhahn.

Feiß is a fairly common surname in Germany, though it may be found in other countries as well. It is known as a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the personal name of the father of the bearer of the surname. In some cases, it may have been used as an identifier for a group of people who were close in some way such as relatives.

Regardless of the origin, the name Feiß has been used for hundreds of years and still serves as a reminder of the past. It is a common surname that is still widely used today and carries with it a sense of tradition and heritage.

Feiß: Where does the name Feiß come from?

The last name Feiß is today most common in Germany. According to the research undertaken by the genealogy society MyHeritage, the name is found in over 5,100 German households. Variations of the name Feiß, such as Feyß, Feiss, Feisser, and Feiser, are much less common.

The last name Feiß originated in the German provinces of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg which are located in the southwestern part of the country. It is thought to be derived from the personal name Veit, a shortened form of the old Germanic name Witekind. This personal name was popularized in Germany during the 12th century by the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I Barbarossa, who later took the name Veit after converting to Christianity.

The name Feiß has a long history in Germany. In the 16th century, the count of Winterstettenstadt, a small principality located in Bavaria, used the name Feiß as his family name. The name Feiß then spread throughout Germany, and even beyond. It can now be found across Europe, including in Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

A number of people with the surname Feiß have made notable contributions to German culture across the centuries. The painter and sculptor Jürgen Feiß, who lived in the 15th century, is one well-known example. The poet and author Johann von Feiß, whose works span the late 18th to early 19th centuries, is another.

Today, the last name Feiß is a common one in German-speaking countries, signifying a long and rich history.

Variations of the surname Feiß

The surname Feiß is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "viz" which means fox. Its variants include Feisse, Fisse, Feiss, Feyss, Fess, Feisser, Feysser, Fesser, Fiser, Feder and Feters. All of these forms are found mainly around the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and in some areas of Alsace.

The Austrian version of the name is "Feiss" and it is found mainly in northern Austria. The German version is "Feiß" and it is found mainly in the southern regions of Germany. The French version of the name is "Feysser" and it is found mainly in the Alsace region of France.

The surname is also spelled in many other ways such as Feise, Feisse, Fisse, Feser, Fess, Fesser, Fiser, Feders and Feters. The spelling of the surname depends on which region it originated from and which language, usually German, was spoken there. Hence, in some areas it may be spelled in one way while in another area it may be spelled differently.

The surname Feiß is also found in various forms in other languages such as Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and some Slavic languages. All of these forms are ultimately related to the Middle High German word "viz" which means fox.

Famous people with the name Feiß

• Alex Feiß: German singer and songwriter.
• Jan-Hendrik Feiß: German footballer.
• Gregor Feiß: German ski jumper.
• Laura Feiß: German judoka.
• Oliver Feiß: German alpine skier.
• Anke Feiß: German equestrian dressage rider.
• Axel Feiß: German classical composer.
• Johannes Feiß: German soccer player.
• Marcin Feiß: German tennis player.
• Sebastian Feiß: German alpine skier.
• Paul Authur Feiß: German painter and graphic designer.
• Weaver Feiß: Austrian water polo player.
• Karl Feiß: German politician.
• Uli Feiß: German handball player.
• Thomas Feiß: German sprint canoeist.
• Bernhard Feiß: German professor of machine elements.
• Janek Feiß: German canoeist.
• Ludger Feiß: German biologist.
• Christoph Feiß: German cyclist.
• Raphael Feiß: German footballer.

Other surnames

Feißt