Surname Feistl - Meaning and Origin
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Feistl: What does the surname Feistl mean?
The last name Feistl is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "feist," which means fierce, spirited, or brave.
Throughout the centuries, the surname has been associated with one of three occupations. The first was the occupation of falconer, which was a role held by members of the German aristocracy. The second was the occupation of a bushman, which was a term used to describe a person who hunted wild animals. The third occupation associated with the last name Feistl was that of a soldier.
The Feistl surname is common today and found throughout Europe and North America. It is an occupational name that has a long history and has lasting meaning in today's society. Those who carry the last name Feistl are known to be hard-working, strong, courageous, and important members of their community. Feistl’s are also known to have a quick wit, a love of learning, and an appreciation for the finer things in life. They are proud of their heritage and carry the Feistl name with respect and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisFeistl: Where does the name Feistl come from?
The surname Feistl is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, two countries which have long shared a cultural and political history. In fact, the name Feistl was first recorded in Austria in the 15th century.
Within Austria and Germany, the surname is most common in the southwest, with high concentrations in the Bavarian mountain region and the Lake Constance area. It is also present in Saxony and Thuringia in eastern Germany.
The surname Feistl is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word "fustel", which means a barrel maker or cooper. This job would have been important in the trade economy of medieval times, such as for the transportation of wine or other agricultural products.
In the centuries since, the Feistl name has been carried by many people, usually in the artisan and craft-maker trades. As the family spread, over the generations, some Feistl people became farmers, merchants, or military personnel, as well as serving in public office.
In the 1930s, many Feistl people emigrated to the United States, mainly settling in Wisconsin and Iowa. Today, people bearing the Feistl name can be found in Europe, North America and beyond.
Variations of the surname Feistl
The surname Feistl is an old Bavarian, German, Slavic, and Hungarian surname that is derived from the Middle High German word “feist” meaning “fierce” or “beautiful.”
The spelling variants thereof include Feistl, Faistl, Feystl, Faestl, Föstl, Fuestl and Vistl, as well as combination surnames such as Faistl-Feystl, Feystl-Föstl and Föstl-Fuestl. Some variants of the name are specific to certain regions, such as “Fäistl” in South Germany or “Fästel” in Austria.
The surnames derived from this base name include Feist, Feisten, Faist, Faisten, Fäist, Fäisten, Feyst, Feysten, Feystl, Faest, Faesten, Föst, Fösten, Föstl, Fuest, Fuesten, Vist and Visten.
In Hungary, the spelling variant “Fösti” is used. It is common in Hungary for the given name and the surname to be identical, such as “Fösti Fösti”. Fösti is also used as a variant of Finstl, the German surname commonly found in speaking German in Bohemia and Austria.
In Austria, the name is commonly spelled “Fästel”. The related spellings “Fästl”, “Festl” and “Festle” are also sometimes used to spell the name.
In conclusion, the surname Feistl has numerous variants and derived surnames that include Feist, Faistl, Feystl, Fäistl, Föstl, Fuestl, Vistl, Fösti, Fästel, Fästl, Festl and Festle, depending on the region.
Famous people with the name Feistl
- Manfred Feistl, writer, translator, filmmaker and CEO.
- František Feistl, Czech-born film director.
- Max S. Feistl, American playwright and acting coach.
- Joe Feistl, American former professional basketball player.
- Karel Feistl, Czech Olympic Freestyle wrestler.
- Christian Feistl, Austrian athlete specializing in the sprinting events.
- Artie Feistel, American Cryptographer, pioneering work in symmetrical cryptography
- Arnold Feistl, American cartoonist and comics artist.
- Karel Feistl, Czech Olympic Freestyle wrestling.
- Andrew Feistl, Czech-American former professional basketball player.
- Joe Feistl, former professional basketball player of German descent.