Surname Fetterle - Meaning and Origin

Fetterle: What does the surname Fetterle mean?

The last name Fetterle is of Germanic origin. It is thought to be derived from a combination of words meaning “fellow” and “free”, likely originally used to describe a person who was of equal or similar standing to others.

The name is also associated with physical strength and fitness. Its use as a surname can be traced back to the lower Middle Ages when individuals with physical strength and renown achieved a level of prominence in their communities. Furthermore, names such as Fetterle began to be associated with talented, strong individuals in farming and craftsman communities, leading to its continued popularity.

Today, Fetterle is most often found in Germany, but can be found in other countries, including the United States and Canada. Historically, it has been a welcoming name, with people willingly using it to represent themselves as individuals indeed who are both strong and proud. It has also become a common name among those of German descent, often adopted as a tribute to their roots.

Ultimately, the last name Fetterle is associated with strength, freedom, and independence, all concepts which are positive and have stood the test of time. Here we can now wholly say that Fetterle is a name for the strong, proud, and independent.

Fetterle: Where does the name Fetterle come from?

The last name Fetterle is most commonly associated with Germany and can commonly be found in German records and genealogies. It is believed to have originated from the German word "vederlen," meaning "to bind." This would indicate that Fetterles were likely farmers or shepherds that fastened their animals or crops.

The Fetterle name can be found quite regularly in Germany today, with significant populations in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt states. Cities with high concentrations of Fetterles include Berlin, Chemnitz, Stuttgart, Bamberg, Augsburg, Coburg, and Münster.

Outside of Germany, Fetterle families are spread throughout many countries in Europe, as many German immigrants left for better opportunities in the 19th and 20th centuries. The United States in particular, saw a large number of German immigrants and as such, Fetterle families can now be found from coast to coast. There is also a small population of Fetterle families in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as the ties between these countries and Germany were also strong during the same period of immigration.

Overall, Fetterles are most commonly associated with Germany, but the name has spread far and wide thanks to German immigrants.

Variations of the surname Fetterle

The surname Fetterle is an English-German surname and its variants include Fetterly, Fetterlee, Fetterlay, Fetterlaye, Fetterloo, Fettrly, Fettrely, Fettrele, Fetterle and Fettrall. These variants are derived from the Middle English phrase "fetter lee," meaning "living near the fetter,” which is a high wall or boundary.

In England, Fetterly emerged during the 12th century. It was derived from the French word "Fetherel", which was a term used to refer to a fortified enclosure. During the 14th century, Fetterly became established as a patronymic name in Britain as a variant of Fetter. The name is most commonly found in the counties of Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

In Germany, the surnames Fetterle and Fetterloo, both derived from Fetterley, can be found in areas such as Bavaria, Hesse, and Baden-Wurttemburg. The German forms of the name are often recorded with the prefix "von," which means "from" or "of," followed by the name Fetterle.

In other countries, such as France, the name has been recorded as Fetterel, or Fettell, while in the Netherlands it is recorded as Fetterloo. In the United States of America, the surname is often spelled as Fetterley, Fetterolee, Fetterlye, Fetterlee, and Fetterlay. The last form of the name is derived from the Low German word "Fetter," meaning "fenced in yard."

In sum, the surname Fetterle has many variants, spellings and surnames that are all derived from the same origin. These variations are found in countries all over the world, with some of the most common forms being Fetterlee, Fetterlay, Fetterlaye, Fetterloo, and Fetterly.

Famous people with the name Fetterle

• Paul Fetterle: an American actor, director, producer, and writer best known for his work on the Nickelodeon TV shows Kleooje (1995-1996) and Rugrats (1991-2005).
• John Fetterle: an American lawyer and former Governor of South Dakota. He also served in the South Dakota Army National Guard and as a Judge Advocate.
• William Fetterle: an American baseball coach and college athletic administrator. He was the head baseball coach at the University of Iowa from 1906 to 1931 and the first college baseball coach to surpass 500 victories.
• Robert Fetterle: an American attorney who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota from 1915 to 1932.
• Jody Fetterle: a popular drag queen and singer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is also the lead singer of the punk-rock band 'The Slashers'.
• Frank Fetterle: an American author, journalist, and playwright. He wrote the books Dr. Prigoloff: A Study in Social Engineering, and Weak Fish of the Old South: Bad Tastes That Won't Wash Away.
• Edgar C. Fetterle: an American astronomer who worked at the University of Washington. He studied the structure of Cepheid variables, and demonstrated that Cepheids are communicating with each other over the Milky Way.
• Arthur Fetterle: an American marksman and competitive shooter. He was a five-time National Rifle Association Champion, and won several awards at the NCAA Rifle Championships.
• Thomas Fetterle: an American entrepreneur and inventor who founded the Fetterle Group, a company that manufactures precision optical systems.
• Richard Fetterle: a visual artist who created sculptures, reliefs, and drawings. In his artworks, he used a wide array of materials, including steel, bronze, stone, and wood.

Other surnames

FetterFettererFetterleinFettermann