Surname Wöstenfeldt - Meaning and Origin

Wöstenfeldt: What does the surname Wöstenfeldt mean?

The last name Wöstenfeldt is of German origin and is derived from the Germanic words "wost" (pasture) and "feldt" (field). In certain parts of Germany, it can still be seen as a location name connected to a pastureland or field. It is believed that the original family to take on this surname lived in an area abundant with pastures and/or fields.

In Germany, Wöstenfeldt is usually found in the North Rhine-Westphalia region as well as the neighbouring Lower Saxony region. There is some evidence to suggest that the family was related to the nobility in the area, as several family members during the Renaissance and Reformation period held titles such as Baron or Count.

Throughout German-speaking countries, the name is generally seen as having a proud and stately connotation. Wöstenfeldt's easily recognise one another as a member of a larger familial network which has shown great strength and tenacity throughout the centuries.

As German immigration to the United States became increasingly common in the 19th and 20th centuries, the name Wöstenfeldt remained relatively uncommon. There are still only a handful of Wöstenfeldt families living in the United States, with the majority being concentrated in the Midwest and North East regions.

Wöstenfeldt: Where does the name Wöstenfeldt come from?

The last name Wöstenfeldt is most commonly found today among German-speaking populations. Although the name has its roots in the area of southern Germany known as Swabia, which was formerly under Bayern rule, there are a few other countries in which this name can be found, such as Denmark, Austria, and Sweden. The name Wöstenfeldt has a variety of variations in different countries, such as Vöstenberg and Wöstenburg in Germany, Wösterfeldt in Denmark, and Vöstenfeldt in Austria and Sweden. In some areas, the name may also be spelled with a dash (-) between the "W" and the "ö."

The Wöstenfeldt name is thought to have originated as a location-based name. A place with the name Vöstenberg, meaning westerly mountain, was first referenced in 1315 and the name Wöstenberg is derived from this. The family who lived at Vöstenberg took on the name as their own, which spread and mutated over time as the family dispersed, eventually leading to the variant names mentioned above.

Today, the Wöstenfeldt name is a relatively common one, largely concentrated in German-speaking regions. A good number of online records show people bearing this name as far back as the early to mid-1900s. In addition, there are active Wöstenfeldt-named Facebook accounts, indicating the name is still quite popular today.

Variations of the surname Wöstenfeldt

The surname Wöstenfeldt is a German surname meaning "Western Field". Variants of the surname include Wostenfeldt, Westenfeldt and Oestenfeldt. Originally the spelling in Germany was Wöstenfeldt and today it is still used much in its original form, however due to immigration to other countries such as the United States of America, alternative spellings developed.

In Germany, the surname is still found mainly in its original form, although other variants have been recorded, the most common being Wostenfeldt and Westenfeldt. In the United States, the surname has typically taken the form Wöstenfeldt, Wostenfeldt or Westenfeldt.

In other countries including Canada and Australia, the variants are Wöstenfeldt, Oestenfeldt, Wostenfeldt and Westenfeldt.

Variant spellings of the name come from situations such as illiteracy, poor handwriting, or any other cause that might lead to a misspelling. Surnames were often anglicized when immigrants arriving to the United States changed the pronunciation of their surname to sound more American. For example, the surname Wöstenfeldt has been anglicized to Wostenfeldt or Westenfeldt.

In addition, other surnames which are derived from the same origin as Wöstenfeldt include Ostenfeldt, Vöstenfeldt and Vostenfeldt. Furthermore, Wöstenfeldt is a set surname, meaning it was formed by combining other existing surnames, such as Wöst and Feldt. As such, the surnames Wöst and Feldt are also related to Wöstenfeldt.

Famous people with the name Wöstenfeldt

• Curt Wöstenfeldt (1873-1945): a German playwright, writer and literary critic.
• Otto Wöstenfeldt (1908-1945): a German World War II fighter pilot.
• Johannes Wöstenfeldt (1887-1964): a German painter and etcher.
• Wolfram Wöstenfeldt (1891-1918): German World War I war poet and author.
• Michele Wöstenfeldt (1915-1998): a German Social Democratic politician.
• Till Wöstenfeldt (born 1956): a Swiss Alpine ski racer.
• Gabriele Wöstenfeldt (born 1962): a German professor of obstetrics and gynecology.
• Kirstin Wöstenfeldt (born 1981): a German modern pentathlete.
• David Wöstenfeldt: a Swedish football goalkeeper.

Other surnames

Wöstenfeld