Surname Fürster - Meaning and Origin
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Fürster: What does the surname Fürster mean?
The last name Fürster is derived from the German word meaning ‘ruler’ or ‘leader’. The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages when it was a popular title for a feudal lord or vassal.
In Germany it is still a fairly common name in some regions. It is usually spelt 'Fuurster' and is pronounced "firs-ter". This last name can represent a family of long standing accomplishment, as the title was assumed by those who held prestigious positions of power and influence.
The name Fürster often appears in the German records of many professions, including bankers, lawyers, clergy, merchants, and military personnel. It is also connected to the early feudal families of Germany, who were granted land by the Crown. Families around the world as far away as South Africa and America can trace their ancestry back to Germany.
Fürster was usually adopted as a ‘surname’, and if you are of German descent you might even have a Fürster in your family tree. It is a name that reflects a long and proud heritage and one which many people are proud to bear as part of their history.
Order DNA origin analysisFürster: Where does the name Fürster come from?
The surname Fürster is most often seen in countries which have a Germanic language. This includes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and some regions of Belgium, as well as parts of Poland and Czech Republic. It is also found in parts of North and South America where German emigrants settle such as Canada, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil.
In Germany, Fürster is one of the most common last names, making up 0.15% of the population. It is also popular in Austria, ranking 13th among the top 100 surnames in 2009. In Switzerland, the name is the 18th most common in 2006.
The last name Fürster is derived from the Medieval Germanic word for territorial ruler or lord, “furst”. It indicates that the original bearer of the name was a nobleman or a high ranked civilian. It is perhaps most often associated with the historic military officers primarily found in the region of Prussia or Germany, known as Generaloberstabsfürsters, which translates to “supreme Field Marshal”.
The name is still very popular in German-speaking countries. It is also widely used among Germanic-Americans, who are descendants of immigrants from some of the countries where German is spoken or partially spoken.
Variations of the surname Fürster
The surname Fürster is a German name commonly used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia after German immigration. The English variants of the surname Fürster are Foster, Foerster, and Forster, all of which are easily recognizable as related to the original German spelling.
The three most common variations of the original Fürster name are Fürster, Fuerster, and Fuhrster. The slight changes in spelling for these variants of Fürster are most likely due to interpretation or speech errors in the original recording of names by officials. Additionally, historical spelling variations are likely due to local dialects, the influence of other languages, and the literacy of the recorder.
Although the Fürster surname is most commonly seen as two words, some variants in Germany may also be found with a single word or hyphenated. Alternate single-word variants include Fuerst or Fuerste. Hypenated variants include Fuerst- and -Fuerster.
Fürster is also found as a surname with additional forenames, either patronymic or longer family names. Common patronymic forenames are Johann, Friedrich, Wilhelm, and Adolph; while longer family names include Fürster von Oldenburg and Fürster auf Brienz.
In combination with other surnames, variants of Fürster are also seen. These are often related to a geographic region, such as Fürster-Ulmer or Fürster-Kröber.
In short, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Fürster are Foster, Foerster, Forster, Fürster, Fuerster, Fuhrster, Fuerst, Fuerste, Fuerst-, -Fuerster, Fürster-Ulmer, Fürster-Kröber, and Fürster auf Brienz.
Famous people with the name Fürster
- Ernst Fürster: Ernst Fürster was a German philosopher, author, and professor. He was an influential figure of German neo-Kantianism and was the author of books such as The Philosophy of Experience and The Meaning of Life.
- Bernhard Fürster: Bernhard Fürster was a German scientist and philosopher who was an active opponent of the Nazi regime.
- Winfried Fürster: Winfried Fürster is a former German football coach. He is best known for his work with the German national team.
- Wolfgang Fürster: Wolfgang Fürster is a German chemist who is currently the director of research of the Institute of Physics at the University of Regensburg.
- Wilhelm Fürster: Wilhelm Fürster was a German industrial chemist and scientific director of the German Research Institute for Cancer Research in Berlin.
- Marisa Fürster: Marisa Fürster is a German architect and Professor of Building Design at the University of Premier in Liverpool, UK.
- Paule Fürster: Paule Fürster is a German film director, screenwriter and producer. She is best known for her 2018 film Dein Heimlicher Freund, which was nominated for two German Film Awards.
- Karoline Fürster: Karoline Fürster is a German actress best known for her roles in the TV series Beelzebub and Hahnenkamm.
- Bill Fürster: Bill Fürster is a former professional football player from Germany. He is best known for his time with the German team FC Winterthur in the 1990s.
- Martin Fürster: Martin Fürster is a former German figure skater and two-time Olympic medalist. He is currently a coach in Dresden.