Surname Foellmer - Meaning and Origin
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Foellmer: What does the surname Foellmer mean?
The last name Foellmer is of German origin and is derived from the term “völlmer” meaning “full of grace”. It is a surname that was common among south German peasants in the 16th and 17th centuries, and was most likely derived from the personal name Vollrath or Folmar.
Foellmer is usually found with the spelling “Föllmer”, “Föhlmer” or “Föhmer”. Variants of this name include "Folmar," "Völlmar,” “Föllmair” and "Vollmeir”. The name is derived from the Old German personal name "Folmar” which was a compound name of “full” and “mari”, meaning “great” and “famous”. It is possible that other variants of the name may have been derived from the personal name “Volmar” or “Valmar” which have roots in Sanskrit, Latin, and Germanic.
Foellmers’ who bear this name today are primarily found in the region of Bavaria. There are also some Foellmer families who may trace their roots back to the Palatinate region of Germany, as well as the Netherlands.
All variations of the Foellmer surname imply a gracious and kindly nature in its bearer. Families bearing this name may be proud of the meaning behind their surname and pleased to know that it carries a legacy that dates back centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisFoellmer: Where does the name Foellmer come from?
The last name Foellmer is most common today in Germany, particularly in the western half of the country. According to data collected in the 1990 Germany census, Foellmer is the 311th most common surname in the country and can be found in almost every German state.
The majority of the Foellmers living in Germany can be found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria. In these three states, around 13,000 Foellmers were recorded in 1990. The North Rhine-Westphalian city of Federal Republic of Germany is the location of the highest concentration of Foellmers within the country; here, there are over 700 Foellmers living in the city.
Outside of Germany, the last name Foellmer can also be found in other countries around the world. In the United States, the Foellmer name has greatly declined in prevalence since its peak in 1940; while more than 800 individuals carried the name in 1940, now only 100 or so are found across the country.
The Foellmer name has also been carried by families to countries such as Canada, South Africa, and Australia. Though harder to track, records indicate that the name Foellmer can also be found in these countries as well.
Altogether, the last name Foellmer can be found throughout the world today, with the highest concentrations being in the US, Germany, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Foellmer
The surname Foellmer is an occupational name of German, Swiss and Dutch origin. The surname derived from the Middle German word "völmerer" which means "one who makes barrels". Variants of the surname include Foellmer, Follmer, Faulmer, Volmer and Völmer.
In Germany today, Foellmer is the most commonly used spelling followed by Follmer, closely related to Foellmer. The Volmer spelling is also related to the original surname and is found in modern Germany along with numerous spelling variations to this day.
The Dutch spellings of the surname are Foellmer, Follmer and Faulmer, while Volmer and Völmer are more closely related Germanic spellings. It is also common for some variants to change spelling slightly upon coming to the United States, such as Follmer becoming Faulmer, or Foellmer becoming Follmer.
In France and Switzerland, Foellmer is found as Foillemer, Volmer, Follmer, Faulmer and Völmer. It is common for some pronunciation variations to arise in these countries, such as the use of “He” instead of “H” in pronunciation.
Regardless of the spelling, the roots of the Foellmer surname are the same. The main aim of those who adopted the name is to make barrels – be it in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands or the United States.
Famous people with the name Foellmer
- Chris Foellmer, Paralympic Nordic Skier.
- Eliza Foellmer, National field hockey champion.
- Dave Foellmer, German Professional Footballer.
- Joseph Foellmer, former American chief administrative judge.
- Dietmar Foellmer, German Football referee.
- Frank Foellmer, German Football player.
- Erwin Foellmer, German Politician.
- Markus Foellmer, German Football player.
- Ingo Foellmer, German Photographer.
- Axel Foellmer, German Physicist.
- Rudolf Foellmer, German Physicist.
- Robert Foellmer, German Concert Pianist.
- Wilhelm Foellmer, German Politician.
- Franz Foellmer, German Professional Golfer.
- Andreas Foellmer, German Chemist.
- Anna Foellmer, German Historical Philologist.
- Bernhard Foellmer, German Football Goalkeeper.
- Karl Foellmer, Swiss Admiral.
- Fritz Foellmer, German Painter.
- Marcus Foellmer, German Professional Footballer.