Surname Fehst - Meaning and Origin
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Fehst: What does the surname Fehst mean?
The surname Fehst is of German origin and is derived from two Middle High German words, “feist” meaning eager or bold, and “freun” which translates to friend. It is thought to have originally been given to a person who was notably fearless and friendly.
As a result, today the name Fehst is typically used to suggest the qualities of determination, courage, and loyalty. It is thought that it was a name used in some noble families of the Middle Ages and this is why these qualities are linked to it.
Variations of the surname can be found in Germany and other countries such as the United States and Australia, under spelling variations such as Featst, Feist, Fehst, and Best.
Being a brave and friendly person is held in high esteem, even today, and this idea is strongly connected to the name Fehst. Those people with the surname will undoubtedly take pride in their sense of loyalty and strength and pass the values down through the generations.
As a centuries old surname, the Fehst name has a strong tradition of the power of friendship and courage that continues to be relevant. It is a classic German name that still carries its original meaning and reminds us of the importance bravery, and friendship.
Order DNA origin analysisFehst: Where does the name Fehst come from?
The last name Fehst is most commonly associated with Germany. Specifically, the name originates from areas of modern-day southern Bavaria. It is believed to have evolved from the old German word “fehest”, meaning “dawn”.
Today, the name continues to be very common in Germany, particularly in the highly rural area of Swabia. The name is also found all over the world due to the German diaspora, particularly in the United States. It is most commonly associated with German-American immigrants of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In addition to these countries, the name is also found among German-speaking communities in other countries, including Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, all of which are located in close proximity to Germany’s southern Bavarian region.
More recently, with the rise of the internet and the globalization of cultures, the name Fehst has become increasingly popular and widespread. It can now be found across the world - in countries such as Argentina, Canada, Australia, Spain and even India.
The growth of the name Fehst as a global surname is an example of how certain family names can become a bridge for immigrants, no matter where they end up making a new home.
Variations of the surname Fehst
Fehst is a German surname that mainly originated in northern Germany, such as the area around the city of Hamburg. It has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of the Fehst surname include Fehst, Fehse, Fehser, Fehses, Fehs, and Fehses. Variants of the surname with the same origin include Feust, Faust, Fausto, Fest, Feist, and Fiest.
The "Fehst" suffix is derived from the German language and is a variant of the words “fehlen” or “fehls”, which means “error” or “fault”. This finds its origins in the Latin word "fallere" which means to ‘deceive’ or ‘to err’, and also from "vadiares" which means "erratic” or “variable”.
The “Fehst” suffix was also a popular habitational name for people who lived by a creek, stream or marsh, “der Feist”. People with this surname could have been immigrants to the area, or descendants of those who had left their homes for a better opportunity.
The Fehst variants and surnames are sometimes also associated with the middle name “Feist”, which is derived from the Middle Low German word “vist” which is a shorten version of the word “vikher”, which translates to “victor”. It has similar roots to the English surname “Fister”.
Many of these variants and surnames eventually became more popular and more widely spread outside of their original local area, making them recognizable and common today.
Famous people with the name Fehst
- Prince Fehst of Württemberg, a German prince who, in 1806, fought in the Oldenberg War and married Duchess Marie of Württemberg.
- Carl Heinrich Fehst, a German architect, known primarily for his neoclassical style churches.
- Franz Fehst, a German zoologist and entomologist, known for his exploration of the ant Formicidae.
- Hans-Ulrich Fehst, a German filmmaker, known for his movies Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss and Rosa Luxemburg.
- Jakob Fehst, a German politician who served as a mayor of the city of Tübingen from 1920-1948.
- Johann Fehst, a German educator who was active in publishing and public education.
- Klaus Fehst, a German entrepreneur who founded the Schocken department store chain in 1933.
- Sabine Fehst, a German actress and voice actress, known for her roles in the television series The Sci-Fi Files and the movie Tempest.
- Walter Fehst, a German athlete and long-distance runner who competed in the Berlin Olympics in 1936.