Surname Foehr - Meaning and Origin

Foehr: What does the surname Foehr mean?

The surname Foehr is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "Ferh," meaning "iron," and was likely used to denote a person who was involved in the forge or blacksmithing. The spelling of Foehr likely developed from an earlier form of the word, such as Föhr or Förh. The surname is most common in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, and also in Denmark, with fewer bearers found in other areas with German-speaking population.

In the 14th century, the surname would have been most associated with blacksmiths and metal workers, although by the 17th century the name was found in more varied occupations. It appears in records for bakers, farmers, laborers, merchants, and laborers. In some cases, the word "Foehr" appears as part of a longer name, such as "Foehrenberg," meaning "an iron hill."

Throughout the centuries, the spelling of Foehr may have changed, or it may have been combined with other surnames. Although the name remains quite rare even today, some well-known bearers include German missionary Gustav Föhrer (1862-1920) and Friedrich Föehr (1887-1958), a member of the Danish parliament.

Foehr: Where does the name Foehr come from?

The last name Foehr is a German name, and is most often found today in Germany. It can also be found in various parts of Europe, including Austria and Switzerland. In the United States, the name Foehr can be found most often in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. These are areas with a substantial German heritage, particularly the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New York.

The name Foehr is believed to have originated with a northern German tribe, known as the Frier. The name initially referred to a type of land, but eventually came to be used as a surname. It was most common in the northern portions of Germany, particularly Hamburg and the North Sea coast.

Today, the Foehr family can be found all over the world. Ancestry.com reports that the surname Foehr is found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and even Australia. However, it is still most heavily concentrated in Northern Germany and the German-American states.

Overall, the name Foehr is commonly found in various parts of Europe, the United States, and other areas of the world where people of German heritage have settled.

Variations of the surname Foehr

Foehr is a German and Dutch surname derived from the Old High German word “fora”, which means “to guard”. It is more common in Germany than in the Netherlands, and there are several different variants of the name, including Fora, Forrer, Frer, Van Frer, Van Foer, Föhr, Froer, veen Föhr, Fuhr, veen Fuhr, Fuhrer, and Fuhrmann.

In some cases, the variation may include the addition of a prefix meaning “from” or a suffix meaning “man”. For example, the Dutch spelling of the surname is Foer, but the variant van Foer means “from Foer” and Fuhrmann means “Foehr man”.

The German spelling of the name can also vary, with Föhr, Frer, and Fuhr all representing the same surname. Similarly, the Dutch spelling of Froer is also sometimes used in German. Additionally, some regional variations of the name include Veen Föhr, Fuhrer, and Van Frer.

The surname Foehr is mostly found in northwestern Germany and in the Netherlands. It can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. All of these variants of the name are related to “guard”, and are likely derived from a single ancestor with the same name.

Famous people with the name Foehr

• Jake Foehr: Executive Vice President of Business Development at FHN, a diversified financial services organization based in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Stephanie Foehr: Creator of Jomsocial, a popular open source social networking platform.
• Anders Foehr: A Danish politician who represented Venstre in the Folketing from 1980 to 1998.
• Felix Foehr: A German politician who served as Minister of Education in Baden-Württemberg from 1950 to 1965.
• Elizabeth Foehr: An American writer and editor whose work has been included in various literary publications.
• Gudrun Foehr: A German actress who has appeared in several TV shows and films.
• Werner Foehr: A German bobsledder who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
• Mike Foehr: A former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the California Angels in 1985.
• Andrew Foehr: A former US Navy lieutenant commander and space shuttle astronaut who flew aboard the STS-126 mission in 2008.
• Steven Foehr: The founder and CEO of reflective listening consulting, a consulting firm specializing in communication and conflict resolution.

Other surnames

Foehre