Surname Feinhalz - Meaning and Origin

Feinhalz: What does the surname Feinhalz mean?

Feinhalz is a Jewish surname, believed to have originated in Germany, derived from the Middle High German words “fein” and “halz” meaning “fine” and “wood” respectively. The name was likely given to describe a skilled woodworker or forester: a person who skilled in identifying and cutting fine wood. It is also believed that Feinhalz was often used as a nickname to describe people who were fair-skinned or had an attractive complexion.

The Feinhalz surname has been associated with the Jewish people for many generations, likely first appearing in Germany during the late 17th century. By the mid-19th century, the name had spread to surrounding parts of Europe, including Bohemia, and then, by the late 1800s, had come to North and South America.

There are multiple variations of the Feinhalz surname, including Feinhal, Fainhal and Fenhald. It is typically spelled Feinhalz in the United States, where the largest concentration of the family can be found today.

The Feinhalz name is rare, with only 302 individuals who bear the name in the United States as of 2019. It is believed that many of those who carry the name are still practicing Jews, and that the Feinhalz family is continuing to carry on the traditional customs and beliefs of their ancestors.

Feinhalz: Where does the name Feinhalz come from?

The last name Feinhalz is common today primarily in Central and Eastern Europe. Specifically, it is found in a number of countries, including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. While the exact origin of the name is uncertain, it is thought to be derived from a German expression meaning “fine or thin hair”.

In Germany, the name is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. It is also found in Austria, especially in the states of Styria and Lower Austria. In the Czech Republic, the surname occurs mostly in the Bohemia region. In Hungary, the name is found mainly around the cities of Budapest and Miskolc. In Ukraine, Feinhalz is most common in Sumy oblast and Dnipropetrovsk oblast.

In Poland, Feinhalz is found mainly in the Silesian and Masovian voivodeships--counties that comprise the southern and central parts of the country. And in Belarus, the name is prevalent in the capital city of Minsk.

Overall, Feinhalz is a relatively uncommon surname, especially compared to other surnames associated with Central and Eastern Europe.

Variations of the surname Feinhalz

The variant and spelling of the surname Feinhalz is Faenhalz and Fenhalz. These three surnames are of the same origin. Faenhalz is believed to have originated in Denmark, Fenhalz originates from Norway, while Feinhalz is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname that comes from the Yiddish word “finhaltz” meaning “feathers.”

Faenhalz is a patronymic surname deriving from the Hebrew language, taken from either the name Faen or Faendt that mean “lucky” or “fortunate.” It is a popular family name within the Jewish community with a large number of listings found in the late 19th - early 20th century in census listings.

Fenhalz is an Ashkenazic surname of unknown origin, believed to originally be an occupational name derived from an old Nordic word meaning “pin maker.” It was a common occupational name for someone who made pins to hold clothes together and for decorative purposes. This surname is often found in Norway.

Feinhalz originates from the Yiddish term “finhaltz” meaning “feathers.” This surname was likely an occupational name for someone who worked with feathers or made feather beds for sale. It was the most common of the three surnames in Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in Russia, Poland and Germany.

All three surnames are still quite common across Europe and beyond. While they all have the same origin, their current spelling and usage may be different depending on their descendants and the region they are from.

Famous people with the name Feinhalz

• Gadi Feinhalz: Israeli voice actor, radio host, and journalist.
• Yaakov Feinhalz: Israeli computer scientist, professor, and author of several books on computer programming.
• Eddie Feinhalz: Canadian-born businessman and philanthropist.
• Yossi Feinhalz: Israeli author and journalist.
• Abraham Feinhalz: American rabbi and author of several books on Jewish thought and practice.
• Menashe Feinhalz: Israeli-born composer and musicologist.
• Aryeh Feinhalz: Israeli musician, ethnomusicologist, and professor at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem.
• Brett Feinhalz: American philanthropist and venture capitalist.
• Manuel Feinhalz: American sculptor and painter.
• Ingrid Feinhalz: German-born author and Holocaust survivor.

Other surnames

Feinhals