Surname Flecken - Meaning and Origin
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Flecken: What does the surname Flecken mean?
The last name Flecken is of German origin and has a number of different meanings.
In some cases, it is derived from German fleck, meaning ‘spot,’ or ‘speck’ and refers to someone who lived near a small pond or lake. In some other instances, it may be derived from middle high German veke or flecken which, in turn, derive from the Latin word fletus and refer to a small fen, low-lying marshland.
The Flecken surname was also used for people living near a wall or small fortification. It may have originally meant one who lived within the walled area or simply someone who lived near the wall or fortification.
The surname Flecken can also be of nickname origin, and refer to someone with a mole or blotch on his or her face or skin.
In some other cases, it may refer to someone who was very well versed in the mysterious and possibly mythical art of Geomancy.
Flecken also non-literally means “living together” and was used to refer to people whose families lived together and supported one another, or to groups of people who lived together for safety or survival during times of uncertainty.
Overall, theFlecken surname is derived from many different roots and carries with it a great deal of history. Its various meanings make it a unique family name that can serve to reveal something about the past of those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisFlecken: Where does the name Flecken come from?
The last name Flecken is most commonly found in Germany today. Flecken is derived from the German word “Fleck” which means “spot,” “stain,” or “fleck.” Many German last names were derived from an occupation or physical or geographic features from the area that the family originated. It is most likely that the name Flecken is derived from an area or geographic feature that has spots or stains.
Flecken can be found all around Germany as it is a very common name but is most heavily concentrated in the states of Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, and the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. A search of Germany's Meyers Gazetteer shows Flecken as a habitation name at various locations around the country.
The surname Flecken is also found in other countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and the United States of America. Flecken is especially common in the US state of Texas where it is found among German-Americans who immigrated in the nineteenth century.
The name Flecken is sometimes found in various other spellings such as Fleckn, Fleckin, Fleck, Fleckne, Fleckner, and Fleckon. Different spellings of the same last name may have been a result of centuries of arbitrary spelling changes made by applicable authorities.
Variations of the surname Flecken
The surname Flecken is a German and Dutch surname most likely derived from the old German word ‘felchen’ which means ‘spot’. It is also found around and in other areas of Central and Eastern Europe, most likely due to its Germanic roots.
Some of the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Flecken include Fleck, Fleckenstien, Fleckenstein, Fleckman, Flecker, Fleckinger, Fleckl, Flecks, and Flecky. The variant spelling of Fleckman is also sometimes spelled Fleckmann or Fleckmen. Other alternate spellings for Flecken include Fleckener, Fleckkein, and Fleckken.
The Dutch spelling of Flecken is also Flecken, Fleckens, Fleken, Vlecken, and Van Vlecken. The Dutch popular surname Van Vlecken derived from the base German surname Flecken, likely as a sign of Dutch nobles being seated in a house in the city of Vlecken.
Another variation is the Polish spelling Flegen, which is a surname most likely derived from the German Flecken in the 18th century when numerous Germans moved to northern Poland. The German presence in Poland led to the combination of different German sounding names and their incorporation into the Polish language. Other European variations of Flecken include the Czech spelling Fleckner, the Estonian spelling Plett, and the Hungarian variant Flekenyi.
In the United States, the surname Flecken has been documented since the mid-18th century. It is thought that the first American of this surname was Nicholas Flecken, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1749. He is believed to be a descendant of an old Swiss family. Variations of the Flecken surname in the United States include Fleckenstine, Fleckenstein, Fleckman, Flecker, and Flecky.
Famous people with the name Flecken
- Alison Flecken: German singer and model
- Bill Flecken: Former American basketball player and coach
- Doni Flecken: German professional footballer
- Gisela Flecken: German Olympic cross-country skier
- Jens Flecken: German actor and voice actor
- Jerome Flecken: American film director
- Johann Flecken: 18th century German organist and composer
- Jordin Flecken: Canadian Olympic curler
- Jürgen Flecken: German television personality
- Leopold Flecken: German composer and violinist
- Manuel Flecken: German ski jumper
- Peter Flecken: German long-distance runner
- Ralf Flecken: former German footballer
- Roman Flecken: German javelin thrower
- Sebastian Flecken: German Paralympic athlete
- Thomas Flecken: German diesll engineer and physicist
- Thorsten Flecken: German football manager
- Victor Flecken: Dutch swimmer
- Viktor Flecken: German rower and Olympic medallist
- Willie Flecken: American musician and entertainer