Surname Fesenmeyer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Fesenmeyer: What does the surname Fesenmeyer mean?
The last name Fesenmeyer is a German name derived from the word ‘fesser’, meaning ‘miller’. The name was originally given to a person who owned or operated a water mill. In medieval Germany, water mills were used to grind grain, spices, and other materials into flour.
The surname Fesenmeyer likely originated in what is now Germany and the surrounding regions. During the Middle Ages, many of those who operated the water mills were immigrants to the area. Many of them were from France and the Low Countries. Immigrants to the area typically attached the ‘fesser’ suffix to their name in order to identify themselves as a miller.
Over time, the surname Fesenmeyer became a hereditary name. This means that, once a member of a family was identified as a miller, subsequent generations adopted the name as their last name. Family members likely took on the occupation of miller and continued using the surname.
Today, the surname Fesenmeyer still exists, although it is less common than it once was. Across much of Europe, water mills have become less necessary as newer methods of grinding grain have replaced them. As a result, the need for a miller has lessened. However, some people in Europe and around the world still bear the name, indicating that their families once had a connection to the milling industry.
Order DNA origin analysisFesenmeyer: Where does the name Fesenmeyer come from?
The last name Fesenmeyer is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the website forebears.io, Fesenmeyer is most prevalent in the southwestern part of Germany, particularly in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
As of 2015, over 1600 people in Germany were recorded as having the last name Fesenmeyer, and the trend in recent years is that the number of people bearing the surname has actually increased.
The vast majority of Fesenmeyers are located in Germany, but the name can also be found in Sweden, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland, among other countries. For example, it appears that in the United States, a majority of Fesenmeyers can be found in Illinois and Missouri.
The Fesenmeyer surname is of Germanic origin and derives from the German personal name Fesen + Meyer - “son of Fesen”. This name was most likely derived from the Germanic god Fosite, who was associated with fertility and agricultural success, and many Fesenmeyers might be descended from a Fosite worshipper.
The Fesenmeyer surname has a long history in Germany, first appearing in written records in the late 13th century. It appears that the Fesenmeyer family was among the first to settle in Lauterbach in the 1600s, and they were later joined by other Fesenmeyers to create a small Fesenmeyer village. Since then, the name spread from this area to other parts of Germany and eventually to other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Fesenmeyer
Fesenmeyer is a German surname of patronymic origin, meaning that it is derived from the name of a father or ancestor. In this case, it is believed that Fesenmeyer is derived from the given name Fese, which is a variant of the given name Faust, meaning "lucky."
The primary variant spelling of the Fesenmeyer surname is Fessenmeyer, while the two other common variants are Feßenmeyer and Feysenmeyer. Other variants of Fesenmeyer include Fessenmeijer, Feessenmeyer, Feyzenmeyer, and Fizenmeyer.
Surnames derived from Fesenmeyer include Fesenmeir, Fesenmayer and Fesenmaier. In some cases, the surname may have been altered by immigration or language to appear anglicized. Examples are Fesmeyer, Fesmair, Fesmire, and Fesmyer.
As a patronymic surname, its variations could still derive from a different given name, such as Fessen from Fess, Festen from Fest, and Feysen from Feyse, all variants of the given name Faust.
Although Fesenmeyer is an uncommon surname, its variants may be more or less common depending on the geographic region of origin. However, it can also be found in parts of central Europe, where immigrants from Germany and other countries eventually settled.
Famous people with the name Fesenmeyer
- Taylor Fesenmeyer (model, television personality)
- Vince Fesenmeyer (American trampoline gymnast)
- Frederick Fesenmeyer (American former Olympic rower)
- Steven Fesenmeyer (former U.S. Marine Corps major general)
- J. Robert Fesenmeyer (American cartoonist and artist)
- Fred Fesenmeyer (American cartoonist and illustrator)
- Edward Fesenmeyer (American biochemist)
- Reese Fesenmeyer (American baseball pitcher)
- J. Frank Fesenmeyer (American soil scientist and agriculturist)
- Robert Fesenmeyer (American politician)