Surname Feistel - Meaning and Origin
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Feistel: What does the surname Feistel mean?
The last name Feistel (also spelled Feystel or Faistel) is a German surname derived from the Middle High German term "viestal," which means small village. It is believed to have first originated in the German region of Bavaria and is thought to have derived from the feudal or farming class - in other words, one who lived in or around a small village.
The Feistel family trace their ancestry back to the 14th century in the Bavarian towns of Höfen and Kolb, and many branches of the family became affiliated with the Duchy of Bavaria and its governing families. It is believed that the Feistel name was given to someone who originally lived in one of these Bavarian villages, and the name was kept and passed down through generations.
The Feistel surname is most associated with the family's emigration to the United States of America, with many Feistels arriving primarily in the 19th century and settling throughout the USA. Today, the Feistel family is still found in the USA and several other countries, many of whom retain their German surnames.
Historically, the Feistel name has been associated with various trades, occupations and professions, including that of tailors, cobblers and hunters. While the Feistel name has become somewhat common in certain parts of the world, it still remains a reminder of the family's proud German heritage and of the journey of immigration that was undertaken.
Order DNA origin analysisFeistel: Where does the name Feistel come from?
The surname Feistel is most common today in Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. It is an old German family name derived from the Middle High German word "væsel" which means "quick and nimble". The name likely originated as an occupational surname for a fast messenger or courier. It is also found occasionally in the United States, Canada, and other countries throughout Europe.
The Feistel surname has been spelled variously, with the most common variations being Faistel, Faisstel, Faistl, Faisstl, Feistel, Fiestel, Fistel, Feystel, Fischl, Fischler, and Focszl.
The Feistel surname is found commonly in German church and civil records dating from the mid-1600s, with the earliest known records of Johann Fischl, born in 1661 in Sparneck, Bavaria. Subsequent generations of the Feistel family spread throughout Germany, mostly in the states of Bavaria and Saxony.
Today, the Feistel surname continues to be a popular family name among German descendants, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. Feistel families have also spread and can be found today in other countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Feistel
The surname Feistel is derived from the Old German word "vaistil," meaning "a person from the town of Feistel or Fastel." It can also be spelled as Feystel, Feystel, Veystel, Feystel, Feysel, Veysel, Feycel, Veycel, Feyzal, Veysal, Faisal, and Vaisal.
Variations of Feistel have also been found in other countries, including France, Switzerland and Spain. In France, the surname is spelled as Feistel, Feystel, Feüstel, Fustel, Foustel, Fustel, Feüstel, Feetzel, Veysel, Feitzel, Faisel, Vaisel, Feycel, and Veycel. In Switzerland, the surname is usually spelled as Veystel, Feystel, Feistel, Veysel, Feitzel, Feasel, Feisel, Feyzal, Veysal, and Faisal. In Spain, the surname is commonly spelled as Feistel, Feystel, Feysel, Veysel, Feyzal, Veysal, Faisal, and Vaisal.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Feistel include Fais and Fusse. Fais is derived from the Old French word "faire," meaning "to do" or "to make," while Fusse is derived from the Old German word "fuss," meaning "foot." Other surnames with similar origins include Fettel, Fesel, Fedel, Feigel, Fegel, Fegeel, and Feigelmann.
Regardless of how it is spelled, the surname Feistel is likely of German origin. It is a common and ancient surname, dating back centuries to a person from the town of Feistel or Fastel.
Famous people with the name Feistel
- Lawrence Carter Feistel: an American cryptographer who designed the Feistel cipher and the Lucifer cryptographic algorithm
- Cliff Feistel: an American artist best known for his wire sculptures
- Michael Feistel: an Australian international chess grandmaster
- Roberto Feistel: a Brazilian journalist and politician
- Bertram Feistel: a German diplomat who served as the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the 1930s
- Laura Feistel: a German record producer and songwriter
- Gary Feistel: an American physicist and radiologist
- Charles Feistel: an American businessman and philanthropist
- Hermann Feistel: a German mathematician who made major contributions to cryptanalysis
- Fritz Feistel: a German politician who served as the Minister of Education and Culture from 1949 to 1955