Surname Fettweis - Meaning and Origin

Fettweis: What does the surname Fettweis mean?

The last name Fettweis is of German origin. It is derived from two parts - Fett, meaning “fat” or “greasy,” and Weis, meaning “white.” Together, the literal meaning of Fettweis could be translated to “white fat” or “greasy white.”

Variants of the surname Fettweis are common throughout Europe and North America, including Fettis, Fettes, and Fatis. However, all of these variants stem from the same root word, Fett, and all mean the same thing.

The Fettweis family name was associated with trade and commerce and in the mid-19th and early-20th centuries, many Fettweis’s emigrated from Germany to the United States, Australia, Canada and other parts of the world.

The Fettweis name also has its defenders within the genealogy community, who claim that Fettweis was an occupational name that signified that its original bearers were involved in food production and preparation. As evidence, they cite the Middle High German root word “fettweize,” which they interpret as meaning someone who produces fat or fat-based products such as soap and salves.

Though the name Fettweis is relatively unknown outside the countries of Germany and Austria, its bearing of a strong and stable name has enabled its many bearers to continue proudly displaying their Fettweis surname to this day.

Fettweis: Where does the name Fettweis come from?

The Fettweis surname is common in Germany, particularly in the east and south. In the north, Fettweis is largely concentrated in the city of Hamburg, which is the top tenth most common surname there. It is also common in other parts of Europe, including Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The surname is also present in some parts of the United States, primarily in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and some parts of Alabama. Records suggest that the Fettweis surname originated from Germany in the mid-eighteenth century and spread to other countries through emigration over the centuries. Common spelling variations of the Fettweis name are Fettweiser, Fetweis, Vetweiss, and Fettweiser. In German, the surname can mean “fat” or “greasy”, and is likely derived from an epithet given by a family member many years ago. Although the true origin of the name remains unconfirmed, the use of the Fettweis surname has endured and is still used by many families today.

Variations of the surname Fettweis

Fettweis is an uncommon and unique surname that is primarily found in Germany. Although the name is German, it is of French origin, derived from the French word "fete," which means "a holiday" or "celebration." The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to the sixteenth century, when it was used to identify a family from Metz, a city in the Moselle department of France.

Variants of the surname Fettweis include Fette, Fett, Fet, Fetteh, Fettmann, and Fettwiss. Different spellings of the surname in German include Fettweiss, Fettwiese, Fetteh, Fettwieser, Fettweiser, and Feitweise.

Surnames of similar origins include the equally uncommon Fehrweiss, Felsweiss, Fendweiss, Femweiss, Feuerweiss, and Feuerweiser, as well as the much more common Faus and Faust.

Notably, Fettweis is often mistaken for another German surname, Fette, which can be found in records dating back as far as the 16th century. Despite having similar spellings, Fette is derived from German words meaning "fat," and was likely an occupational surname referring to a butcher or tanner.

Famous people with the name Fettweis

• Thomas Fettweis: former American football long snapper and professional lacrosse player.
• Frank Fettweis: former German football player and manager.
• Bernhard Fettweis: German professor of communications engineering at Technische Universität Dresden.
• Arthur Werdier Fettweis: former American football guard and coach.
• Josef Fettweis: German poet and artist.
• Johann Christopher Fettweis: German composer from the 17th century.
• Chris Fettweis: American singer, songwriter, and musician.
• André Fettweis: French ophthalmologist and scientist.
• Arno Fettweis: former German football player, coach and manager.
• Jim Fettweis: American football coach.
• Robert Fettweis: German composer and organist from the 18th century.
• Wilhelm Fettweis: German physician from the 19th century.
• Rob Fettweis: American racecar driver from the 20th century.
• Margarethe Fettweis: German sculptor and painter from the 19th century.
• Christian Fettweis: German theologian from the 18th century.
• Hans Fettweis: German politician from the 19th century.
• Walter Fettweis: German tenor from the 20th century.
• Paul Fettweis: Belgian composer from the 20th century.
• Heinz Fettweis: German actor from the 20th century.
• Karl Fettweis: German theologian from the 20th century.

Other surnames

FettweissFettweiß