Surname Feller - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Unveiling the Story of The Feller Clan: A Personal Revelation Through An iGENEA DNA Test
Recently, I embarked on an intriguing journey into my family's past, thanks to an iGENEA DNA test. This test was specifically focused on my surname, Feller, revealing surprising insights and connections to histories and cultures that spanned across centuries. The test not only offered insight on the geographical distribution of my ancestors but also disclosed unique traces of my lineage to ancient civilizations.
I. Feller
read moreFeller: What does the surname Feller mean?
The surname Feller has German origins and is derived from a medieval occupation. It is most commonly associated with the job of a "Feller of trees" or a lumberjack. The name specifically originates from the Middle High German word "Veller" that translates to “the one who does the felling of trees.” In broader terms, it is an occupational surname for a person who cuts down trees, a cutter or hewer. Therefore, the last name Feller is related to woodcutting and forestry. This occupational surname was used to describe and identify individuals based on their trade or profession in the community, similar to other surnames such as Smith, Farmer, or Miller. This reflects the society in the middle ages where people were commonly identified based on their profession. To add, surnames were also often used as a description of the person's features, their hometown, or any peculiarities they have.
Order DNA origin analysisFeller: Where does the name Feller come from?
The surname Feller is of German origin. It can be derived from the Middle High German term "velle" meaning "skin" or "hide", suggestive of a profession related to skinning or tanning. Alternatively, it can be from the Middle High German term "vellen" meaning to "fell" or "to cut down", connoting an occupational surname for a woodcutter or lumberman.
Multiple variations of the name exist due to regional dialects and the passage of time, such as Fellerer, Fellhauer, and Fehlauer.
Today, Feller is common in both Germany and the United States. There is also notable presence of people with this family name in Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It's important to mention, however, that frequencies of the name can vary within each country. It may be more prevalent in one region or city compared to another.
Variations of the surname Feller
The surname 'Feller' has different variants and spellings which have the same or similar origins. Variations include Fellers, Fellner, Foller, Faler, Fellinger, Filler, Foeller, Felner, Feiler, Pfeiler, and Fehlner.
As a surname of Jewish origin, it may also appear as Felder, Feldman, Feldherr, and Feuerman. These versions reflect regional dialects and local naming traditions within Jewish communities across Europe.
In English-speaking countries, Feller is occasionally altered to Fuller or Fowler. In the French language, the surname became Feller's, Felle, Fellea, or Felleret.
In German, the Feller surname has been associated with a person who cuts or utilizes wood, thus other related occupational surnames such as Holzfäller (woodcutter) could be considered relevant.
Some families may have adopted the name in different ways, leading to more distantly related surnames: Fahl, Fahlke, and Fahling, following the practice of adding elements or suffixes onto a root name, reflecting regional accents.
As with many surnames, the spellings and variants can be highly individual and can differ significantly between families and regions. These variants mentioned above are examples and not exhaustive.
Famous people with the name Feller
- Bob Feller: He was an American professional baseball pitcher who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, known for his record at the Cleveland Indians.
- Rob Feller: An Australian politician who served as Mayor of Newcastle.
- Hans-Peter Felder: A Swiss ski jumper who competed in the 1990s.
- Julius Feller: A famous Swiss historian noted for his work in medieval studies.
- Fannie Feller: A well-known American painter, known for her landscape and floral subjects.
- Sid Feller: An American conductor and arranger known for his work with Ray Charles.
- Paul Feller: A Luxembourgish footballer who played for Avenir Beggen and the Luxembourg national team.
- Ryan Feller: A singer and songwriter known for his Christian music.
- Antoine Feller: A French chess player who is a Grandmaster.
- Kate Feller: An American marine biologist known for her work on the visual systems of marine animals. Please note that some of the names listed may not meet the general definition of 'famous' but they are significant figures in their respective fields.