Surname Woestenfeld - Meaning and Origin

Woestenfeld: What does the surname Woestenfeld mean?

The last name Woestenfeld is a German surname derived from the toponymic meaning 'out in the field'. This would have been derived from a family that lived in or near a particular field or open area. The surname is generally found in northern Germany and is sometimes also found in the United States, especially among those of German origin.

The origin of this surname likely dates back to medieval times, when people moved to new dwellings and adopted the name of the place where they settled. This surname may also refer to a family who was originally engaged in farming or agricultural work and may have lived in a rural area, hence the 'out in the field' connotation.

The pronunciation of the name is relatively simple, as it is pronounced 'Voes-ten-feld'. This surname is not so common in the United States, as the great majority of Americans with this surname are likely of German background. It has likely been passed down through generations, since it has such a long history and trajectory in Germany.

So, the last name Woestenfeld likely indicates an ancient German family with agricultural roots, historically living in an open area, and has been passed down through generations to the present day.

Woestenfeld: Where does the name Woestenfeld come from?

The last name Woestenfeld is most common today in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the United States, and Luxembourg, according to data from the World Names PublicProfiler.

In the Netherlands, Woestenfeld is the 14,410th most common surname, accounting for approximately 0.001 percent of the total population. In Germany, it is the 21,432th most common name, representing 0.001 percent of the population. In France, it is the 20,031th most common surname, making up about 0.001 percent of the population. In Denmark, it*s the 13,542nd most common, comprising 0.002 percent of the population.

In Switzerland, Woestenfeld is the 9,862nd most common surname, making up 0.002 percent of the population. The data from the Czech Republic shows it to be the 4,876th most common surname, representing 0.004 percent of the population. The United States is the only country outside of Europe in which Woestenfeld is relatively common, ranking 12,538th in terms of frequency, comprising 0.001 percent of the population. Finally, Luxemborg has the 2,255th most common surname, making up 0.003 percent of the population.

This data reflects that Woestenfeld is a fairly rare surname overall, but is particularly common in Europe. As such, it is likely of European origins.

Variations of the surname Woestenfeld

The surname Woestenfeld is a low-frequency surname, found in Germany and the Netherlands. It is thought to derive from the Middle Dutch words ‘wose’ or ‘wester’, meaning western, and the Middle High German word ‘feld’, meaning field. Possible variants of the surname Woestenfeld are Wöstefeld, Woestefeld, Vostenfeld, Westfeld, Wostenfelt, Vettstfeld, Wustenfeld, Westefelt and Westenfeld. Two other surnames of the same origin are Westerveld, which is derived from the combination of ‘wester’ and ‘veld’ (field), and Westland, which is derived from the combination of ‘wester’ and ‘land’ (land). As far back as the 13th century there is mention of a family named Wostenfeld, who lived in the Lower Rhine province. In the 16th century, a prominent family with the surname Woestenfeld were landed nobles in Northern Germany. The spelling Woestenfeld appears to be most common in the Netherlands and Germany, while the surname Westland is more likely to be found in the west of the Netherlands. The surnames Westfeld and Wöstefeld are also associated with the Netherlands and Germany, respectively.

Famous people with the name Woestenfeld

• Franz Woestenfeld (1863-1943), German linguist, historian and orientalist.
• Anthony Woestenfeld (1917-1991), American chemist, businessman and philanthropist.
• Joe Woestenfeld (1932-2013), American artist and musician.
• Gérald Woestenfeld (born 1963), French music producer and composer.
• Anita Woestenfeld (born 1966), Belgian-born American artist.
• Mark Woestenfeld (born 1968), American businessman and entrepreneur.
• Michelle Woestenfeld (born 1975), American television executive producer.
• Christoph Woestenfeld (born 1976), Austrian environmental scientist and professor of environmental engineering.
• Karim Woestenfeld (born 1983), German football player.
• Tim Woestenfeld (born 1987), German singer-songwriter.

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