Surname Finsterle - Meaning and Origin
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Finsterle: What does the surname Finsterle mean?
Finsterle is a German surname, which derives from the Middle High German words ‘finster’ meaning ‘dark’ and ‘helle’ meaning bright. Therefore, the literal translation of Finsterle is ‘dark-bright’.
The surname Finsterle is thought to indicate the occupation of the family, that of a candle makers, as the word implies a combination of dark and light in reference to the candle’s wick and flame. Some believe that the surname could also relate to a combination of contrasting characteristics such as physical features, personalities or behaviors.
The Finsterle surname is likely to have originated in Bavaria, where there is evidence of Finsterles living as far back as the 1600s. By the 1800s, many Finsterles had scattered to other parts of Europe, such as the United Kingdom and even the United States of America.
Today, Finsterle is still a popular surname amongst North America, Germany, and other parts of Europe. Despite its dark roots, many Finsterles are now enjoying a comforting stability, being part of a loving family and work life. Modern day Finsterles are proud of their unique surname, which holds cultural and occupational significance of centuriesgone by.
Order DNA origin analysisFinsterle: Where does the name Finsterle come from?
The Finsterle surname is predominantly found in the German-speaking region, primarily in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It may also be found in countries with significant populations of ethnic Germans, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
The name is derived from the Middle High German words "Vinkinsterlen," which literally translate to "little birds' nest." This suggests that the original bearers of the name lived in a small, rural area. It is likely that the surname was brought to its current areas of prevalence during the Middle Ages, when the Germanic people began to migrate eastward.
Today, the Finsterle name is still quite common in its home region of the German-speaking countries. In Austria, it is the 511th most popular surname, and was common enough to have its own Fraternity. In neighbouring Germany, it's the 4,298th most popular surname. It is also present in Switzerland, where it currently ranks as the 1,491st most common name.
Outside its homeland, the Finsterle is mainly spread through emigrants and their descendants who moved overseas in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the United States, it ranks as the 15,517th most popular surname. Though significantly more rare outside the German-speaking region, the Finsterle name is still recognizable today.
Variations of the surname Finsterle
Finsterle is an unusual surname with a few variants and alternate spellings. Its derivation is German and may refer to a person from Finsterle, a village located near the Black Forest in Bavaria. The original spelling of the name is Finsterle, but the variants and alternate spellings can include Finster, Finser, Fünsterle, Finsichele, Fengster, Fensterlin, Fintsterly, Fintsterling, and Finstert.
Finsterle is an unusual name of Middle High German origin which has its roots in the town of Finsterle in Bavaria. The name was later adopted and/or corrupted into various other forms such as Fengster, Fünsterlin, Finser, Fensterle, and Fengsterly. This variation is likely due to the sometimes confusing spelling of the time period.
The Price DNA Project has identified a Finsterle family which came from Finsterle to Baden, Germany in the 16th century, making their way to the U.S. and Canada in the 1900s. Some variants of this surname still exist in North America. The Price DNA Project has also gathered information about related families with similar spellings, many of which are established in the northern Germany states, among other countries in Europe.
Overall, Finsterle is an unusual surname with a variety of spellings, spellings and surnames of the same origin scattered all over the world.
Famous people with the name Finsterle
- Admiral Albert Finsterle: was the Chief of the German Naval Personnel from May 15th, 1945 until February 22nd, 1946.
- Johannes Finsterle: a German lawyer and politician; was a member of the SPD (the Social Democratic Party) in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
- Johannes Finsterle Sr.: was a German entrepreneur; he founded what later became Fides Handelsgesellschaft Finsterle, a company producing consumer goods and electronic components.
- Marcus Finsterle: a German professional ice hockey player; he currently plays for the Kolner Haie of the DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga).
- Manfred Finsterle: a German physicist; he has published over 170 papers in the field of physical chemistry, nanotechnology, and structural electronics.
- Werner Finsterle: a former German politician; was a member of the Bundestag for the Green Party from 1998-2005.
- Wolfram Finsterle: a German research professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich; works in the field of extreme ultraviolet optics.
- Wolfgang Finsterle: a German physicist and specialist; published many papers on waveguides, microfluidic systems, and optical networks.