Surname Foith - Meaning and Origin
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Foith: What does the surname Foith mean?
The surname Foith is of German origin. It is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word ‘voget’, meaning ‘ploughman’ or ‘gardener’ and dates back to the 14th century. As the name spread, the spelling variants began to appear, including Foith, Foithe, Foythe, and Foyth.
During the 15th century, the surname could be found throughout Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Austria. It was also adopted by people of Jewish descent. As people bearing this surname migrated to other countries, the Foith surname was found in parts of England, Scotland and the United States.
Apart from its occupational origin, Foith is also thought to be derived from a nickname given to people who were physically strong ‘burly’ or who had a lively, ‘jolly’ disposition.
This surname is not particularly common now, but it is still in use in many parts of the world. It is suggestive of work ethic and joy, and each generation of Foiths has upheld the proud tradition of the family name.
Order DNA origin analysisFoith: Where does the name Foith come from?
The surname Foith is unique and is most commonly found today in Germany. It is believed to be of German origin, though its exact origin is unknown.
There have been instances of the Foith family in other countries too, as the name can likely be traced back to someone migrating from Germany to another nation. For example, the Foith family appeared in England during the 1600s, likely as a result of a migration from their homeland.
Today, the surname Foith is much more common in Germany than in other countries. In German records, the name is generally found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Rheineland-Palatinate. In recent years, the name has been recorded as popular in other states in Germany too, such as Hesse, and can be found in many parts of Hessian territory.
In addition to Germany, Foith can also be found in various other countries. It is known to exist in Austria, Switzerland, France, and also in some parts of the United States. The first recorded Foith family in the US appeared in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, with the most recently recorded family being in New York in the late 1800s.
In general, the Foith surname is not particularly common in the modern world, but its prevalence is likely to increase over time due to the globalization of our world.
Variations of the surname Foith
The surname Foith is most likely an anglicized version of the German surname Fuith (pronounced "foyt"). Foith is also sometimes anglicised as Foyth, Foyt, Fote, and Foit.
The German spelling of Foith may also be found written as Futh, often as a shortening of other surnames such as Fuithauer (a contraction of Fuith+auer, meaning "from Foith") or Fuithmüller (a contraction of Fuith+ Müller, meaning "mill worker from Foith").
In Austria, a variation of the Foith surname is found written as Foidl, which is a phonetic spelling of the name originating from a dialect spoken in the region. The German spelling of Foidl is Foydl.
Further variations of the Foith surname include Fout, Fowth, Foth, Foutch, Fautz, and Vautz. The spelling Vautz is commonly used in the Lower Saxony region in Germany and is derived from the Old German language.
The surname Foith can also be found in Holland, written as Foeith, and in Spain it is written as Fuetas. In some Nordic countries, such as Finland, it may be written as Fööth or Foeth.
In England, where the surname was adopted in the 16th century, it is most commonly found written as Foyth, Foyt, Fouth, and Fout.
In America, Foith is most commonly found spelled Fowth, Foyth, Fout, Foit, and Fye.
Famous people with the name Foith
- Alexander Foith, German actor.
- Daria Foith, German model.
- Moe Foith, American rapper and producer.
- Ashley Foith, Canadian singer and songwriter.
- Amalie Foith, Austrian singer and television host.
- Markus Foith, German ice hockey player.
- Nora Foith, German figure skater.
- Andrew Foith, American actor and comedian.
- Fabian Foith, German footballer.
- Jackie Foith, American athlete and commentator.
- Tom Foith, American stage and film actor.
- Emilio Foith, Spanish cyclist.
- Kay Foith, German automotive engineer.
- Ivan Foith, Greek composer.
- Ben Foith, British mountain climber.