Surname Feithen - Meaning and Origin

Feithen: What does the surname Feithen mean?

The last name Feithen is thought to originate from the Netherlands. It is believed to have been derived from the Dutch words "feit" (fact) and "hein" (home), which together form the phrase "Feit hein," which literally translates to "fact home." This phrase could have been used to describe someone who was known for being honest, trustworthy, or a reliable source of information, making it a desirable surname.

The Feithen surname is found most commonly in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles. In Dutch records, the Feithen family is associated with the noble family Heerma van Voss. This suggests that at some point in history, members of the Feithen family had risen to the level of nobility and been given the privilege of taking on a name and legacy of importance.

Although the exact meaning of Feithen remains somewhat ambiguous, the origin is believed to carry a positive meaning of trustworthiness and reliability. Today, the Feithen surname represents a Dutch heritage of steadfastness and loyalty.

Feithen: Where does the name Feithen come from?

The last name Feithen is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It is also found in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. Feithen is also found in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. More recently, the Feithen name has begun to spread to other European countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.

The Feithen surname first appears in records during the 13th century in Germany and is derived from a place name. This is likely because members of the family originally lived in the proximity of a settlement named Feißen or Feitten. Over the centuries, it changed from the spelling Feißen to Feitten before finally settling on the version that is used today.

Feithen is an uncommon surname by international standards, although it is quite common in its native Germany. Research suggests that around 10,000 people in Germany are named Feithen, measure for 1 in every 130,000 people. That puts Feithen on the list of Germany’s Top 100 surnames. Outside of Germany, the name is much rarer with only a few hundred people in the world estimated to bear the Feithen name.

Variations of the surname Feithen

The surname Feithen has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Feithin, followed by Faithen, Feitheen, Feithen, Feithenn, Feithin, Fethin, Fethinane, Feithine, Feithenne, Feithon, Feidhlean, Fythene, and Feithenne.

Feithen is believed to have originated from Irish Gaelic, derived from the word "feith" which means "adoption". It is speculated that the Feithen surname might have been given to an individual that was adopted. The first recorded bearer of the name was Donnchadh mac Feithin, who was chief of Cineal Fearmaighe, which was located in northern Ireland in the 11th and 12th centuries.

The variants of the Feithen surname evolved from specific dialects of the English language throughout the centuries. The Feitheen variant, for example, which is the most common form used in the United States, originated from the English dialect of Ulster.

Due to emigration, the surname variants are now spread across many countries, including Scotland, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Feithen surname can also be used as a middle name or first name. It is sometimes used as a short form of the name Stephen. There have been individuals whose first name is Feithen, such as Feithen McKissick who is a commercial producer in Detroit and Feithen MacLeod, who is an entrepreneur and public speaker in New York.

Famous people with the name Feithen

• Gesa Feithen-Betz, German banker and politician
• William H. Feithen, American politician
• Kenneth L. Feithen, American adviser
• Sandor Feithen, Hungarian painter
• Field Marshal Sándor Fejes, Austro-Hungarian military commander
• Heinz Feithen, German footballer
• Wil Feiten, German operatic soprano
• Dirk Feiten, German footballer
• Christian Feiten, German mathematician
• Philipp Feiten, German footballer
• Mayor Archie Feiten, American musician and singer
• William John Feiten, American composer
• Tom Feiten, German politician
• Cord Feiten, German footballer
• Roswitha Feiten, German pop singer
• Alice Feiten, German opera singer
• Ilse Feiten, German pop singer
• Oskar Feiten, German Olympic sports shooter
• Aegidius Feiten, Luxembourgian agricultural minister
• Willi Feiten, German association football manager

Other surnames

Feith