Surname Fiegenschuh - Meaning and Origin
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Fiegenschuh: What does the surname Fiegenschuh mean?
The last name Fiegenschuh is a German-language surname that originates from Austrian and Southern German-speaking countries. Fiegenschuh derives from Middle High German words fegen, meaning “sweep”, and schuh, meaning “shoe”. This surname is thought to have evolved from the occupation of a street sweeper, a person responsible for the sweeping of roads and public spaces of dirt and debris. According to historians, the job of a street sweeper would have included the collection of wood blocks or heavy stones. As such, Fiegenschuh could also imply “one who collects wood blocks and stones.”
Variations of this surname include Feigenschuh, Fiegenshuh, Fiegshuh, Fiegershuh, Fiegishuh and Fegenshuh. In addition, the surname is thought to have several coat-of-arms variations that are specific to certain regions of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Today, the Fiegenschuh surname can be found across Europe, Canada, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisFiegenschuh: Where does the name Fiegenschuh come from?
The last name Fiegenschuh is most commonly found in a relatively small area in southern Germany. It is found in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg in a region called the Upper Danube Valley, which extends from Ulm in the north, south to the border of Austria.
The Fiegenschuh family first emerged in the area in the thirteen century. The name is derived from the German words "fiegen", which means hawk or falcon, and "schuher', which means shoe-maker. Because the family was associated with the craft of making shoes, the name Fiegenschuh eventually became their surname.
As of 2020, the citizens with the last name Fiegenschuh are still concentrated in the Upper Danube Valley and in the town of Karlsruhe, which was historically the center of the family's origin. Though the population has steadily risen due to migration, many Fiegenschuhes have remained in the area, either living off the land or operating shoe-making businesses which have been passed down for generations. As of today, the surname can still be traced to these areas and is still a common name there.
Variations of the surname Fiegenschuh
The surname Fiegenschuh is a German name that originates from Feigenschuh, which is a combination of two words, “feig” which means fearful or timid, and “schuh” which means shoe. As a result, it is believed that this name could have been given to an ancestor who was timid or afraid and was known to carry extra shoes with him wherever he went.
Variations of this name include Fiegenshuh, Faegenschuh, Fegenschuh, Feigenschuh, Fiegenschuh, Feygenschuh, Feigenshuh, Fiagenschuh, Fiygenschuh, Feagenschuh, Fieghschuh, Fighschuh, and Feigeschuh.
Common alternative spellings of this surname include Fegenshuh, Feighschuh, Fietgenschuh, Fiegezchuh, Fiegentshuh, Fiegenzchuh, Fieganshuh, Fiengenschuh, and Fiengschuh.
Surnames which share the same origin as Fiegenschuh include Feig, Feigel, Feigler, Feigin, Feigenbaum, and Feigelson.
All of these variants and spellings share one common origin and point to an ancestor who was either timid or fearful. The name has evolved through the centuries, but its origins still remain the same.
Famous people with the name Fiegenschuh
- Kurt Fiegenschuh: Austrian freestyle skiier who competed in the 1974 Winter Olympics
- Chris Fiegenschuh: American diver who won a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games
- Christian Fiegenschuh: Swiss ski jumper who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Lisa Fiegenschuh: Dutch handball player who competed in the 1991 and 1997 World Championships
- Jennifer Fiegenschuh: actor, voice actor and filmmaker
- Wolfgang Fiegenschuh: German composer, conductor and piano teacher
- Markus Fiegenschuh: Austrian ski jumper who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics
- Friedrich Fiegenschuh: German athlete who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Elvira Fiegenschuh: German discus thrower who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Philipp Fiegenschuh: Austrian footballer who played for FC Basel 1893 in the 1990s