Surname Fehn - Meaning and Origin
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Fehn: What does the surname Fehn mean?
The last name Fehn (pronounced like "fawn") is a German and Scandinavian surname of occupational origin. It was originally derived from the Middle High German word "fenne," meaning fen, which is an area of low-lying, marshy land. This name was used to denote someone who worked on, or owned such land, as this environment was common across the Germanic regions.
Throughout centuries, the name Fehn was consistently found in Germanic regions such as Germany, Scandinavia, and other parts of Northern Europe, with early records dating back to 1150 AD. From the 1300s to the 1800s the name Fehn was to be found in numerous German cities and towns, primarily in the areas of Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
This name was also found in Prussia and other areas which the German Empire had control over until the end of World War I. After this period, many of the name holders moved to the United States, Canada, and other countries throughout the world.
In contemporary times the name Fehn can be found all over the globe. Fehn is still a popular surname in Germany and Scandinavia, and most holders of the name can be found in North America, however, some smaller populations can be found in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand.
In summary, the name Fehn is a German and Scandinavian surname of occupational origin, referring to the occupation of managing or owning marshy, low-lying land. It was widely found in Germanic regions until German expansion in the 1800s, after which it spread throughout North America and the world.
Order DNA origin analysisFehn: Where does the name Fehn come from?
The last name Fehn is most commonly found in Germany today. It is estimated that over 300 people living in Germany are named Fehn, and is especially common in the state of Lower Saxony. Fehn can also be found in small numbers in the Netherlands, the United States, and a few other countries.
The origins of the last name Fehn can be traced back to the early 15th century when many people in Northern Germany began to adopt surnames. The roots of Fehn are found in Dutch, which means "from the Fen (low lying marshy land)," likely indicating that the earliest Fehns settled in areas of northern Germany that were enclosed by marshland or wetlands.
Today, the Fehn surname is likely to be encountered in areas of Germany where Lutheranism is especially prominent due to the many religious refugees who migrated to the area, among them, many Fehns.
The last name Fehn is also shared by many people who have emigrated from Germany over the centuries and can be found more sporadically around the world. In the United States, for instance, Fehn can be found in small numbers in states like Wisconsin and Missouri.
Variations of the surname Fehn
The surname Fehn is of German origin and can be found spelled in different ways. The spelling variations of the surname Fehn include Fahne, Fehne, Fehen, Von Fehne, Fahne, Fahneberg, Fahneberger, Fahnen, Fahnenberger, Fahnenstricker, Fahner, Fehnen, Fehnlein, Fehnel, Fehnelen, Fehner, and Fehner.
In some parts of Germany, specially in the Northern parts, the surname Fehn is found spelled as Van Fehnen or Von Fehnen. This indicates a possible Dutch or Frisian origin of the surname Fehn.
The surname Fehn can also have other spellings, such as Fahn, Fahne, von Fehn and Fehnen, which are still common in some areas of Germany.
In addition, the surname Fehn can also have associated surnames based on same origin, including Fehnle, Fehnlehns, Fahning and Fehns.
In some places, the Fehn surname can be interchangeable with the variant surname of Thein, which can sometimes be used to refer to the same family.
The surname Fehn is also found in other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and various other countries of European origin. In these countries the surname Fehn may also be spelled differently, including Fayne, Fane, Feeney, Fahney, Fain and Feeney.
Famous people with the name Fehn
- Uwe Fehn: former German pentathlete, won the Pentathlon World title in 1990.
- Henning Fehn: former professional middleweight kickboxer from Hamburg.
- Adelheid Fehn: German social worker in the early 19th Century.
- Henny Fehn: German classical dancer, appeared in several ballets up until the 1930s.
- Trond Fehn: Norwegian ski jumper, won the Ski Jumping World Championships in 1962.
- Gerhard Fehn: German physicist, worked in research on applied low temperature physics.
- Antonio Fehn: former Brazilian swimmer, competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Olaf Fehn: pioneering Norwegian lawyer, was involved in the development of Norway's constitution from 1814.
- Heidi Fehn: German rower, won silver medal in rowing at the 1988 Olympic Games.
- Juergen Fehn: former East German footballer, played for several teams in the DDR starting in the early 1980s.