Surname Fillner - Meaning and Origin
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Fillner: What does the surname Fillner mean?
The last name Fillner is of German origin. It is said to be derived from "Fueller" or "Vieler", from the Middle High German word “fueller”, meaning “many”. This might refer to a person who was considered many or who had a large number of children. An alternate origin is from the Hebrew name Filner, from the Biblical name Phineas, derived from the Hebrew word meaning “mouth of honest counsel”.
In some cases, the name Fillner has been associated with the Finnish language and culture and is said to have originated from the Finnish surname Vilner, which is a combination of the Finnish words “vielä”, meaning “still”, and “neri”, meaning “hearted”.
Throughout history, the name Fillner has been found in various regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found among the many surnames that have been brought to America since the 1600s. In the United States, Fillner has been included in the census records as early as the 1800s and is commonly found in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.
Today, Fillner is quite a rare surname, both in the United States and abroad. In some cases, it is spelt slightly differently as Fullner or Filner, but the origin and meaning remain the same.
Order DNA origin analysisFillner: Where does the name Fillner come from?
The last name Fillner is commonly found mainly in the United States and Canada, although some Fillners have also been known to emigrate to other countries.
The largest concentration of people with this surname can be found in the United States. Particularly, the states of Ohio, Florida, and Illinois have a higher concentration of individuals with the last name than average.
In Ohio, specifically, Fillners are loud and proud in its capital city, Columbus. The name is especially common in this area, as it is the home of numerous Fillner families who have intermarried over generations. Smaller clusters of Fillners can also be found in many other states, including Virginia, New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
In Canada, the last name Fillner has gained a position of prominence in the Canadian Maritimes region, particularly in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. A good chunk of the Canadian Fillner population is believed to have descended from German immigrants who moved to the area during and shortly after the Second World War.
Beyond these two countries, Fillners have been known to spread out into various other countries in search of better economic opportunities. For example, some Fillner families have made their way to the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Fillner
The surname Fillner has origins in Germany and is found across the world, including Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Variants of the name include Fillner, Fillnerer, Filnerer, Filener, and Filenera. Spellings of the name might vary, with a common variation being Philener or Philenera.
In Germany, the name was originally spelled Füllner. Later, the spelling changed to either Füllner or Fillner. It was only in more recent times that the variants, such as Fillnerer and Filnerer, began to appear.
In the United States, the surname has changed over time as immigrants from German-speaking countries settled in. Some immigrants' names changed upon arrival to America, often due to incorrect spelling by immigration officers. Interestingly, in the United States, some descendants of Fillner families have taken on the surname Fillers instead of Fillner.
The Fillner surname can also be found in many other countries across Europe, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, and the United Kingdom. In all of those countries, the surname has taken various forms, usually influenced by the local language or dialect.
Finally, there are also numerous variations in the surnames of Fillner descendants in countries outside of Europe, particularly in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In those countries, the surnames may have been developed from the original spelling or changed to fit local linguistic conventions.
No matter what variation of the surname Fillner is found, they all have a common origin and have an interesting history that follows from one country to the next.
Famous people with the name Fillner
- Joseph Fillner: a German-American artist who produces works of memory-driven art.
- Lillian Fillner: a successful businesswoman and philanthropist.
- Ruth Fillner: a prominent Swiss activist for women's rights.
- Tom Fillner: an American football player who played in the National Football League.
- Diana Fillner: an American author, playwright and children's author.
- Paul Fillner: an award-winning American landscape painter.
- Felix Fillner: an Austrian historian, author, and social activist.
- Alexander Fillner: an Austrian sculptor and architectural model designer.
- John Fillner: an American professional ice hockey defenseman.
- Amelia Fillner: a British actress, singer and dancer.