Surname Föllen - Meaning and Origin
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Föllen: What does the surname Föllen mean?
The surname Föllen is of Germanic origin and is found primarily in the regions nestled within the southern half of Germany. It is thought to be descended initially from a root Old German word meaning "fallen," which would have referred to something that had fallen from a tree, a piece of fruit or land that had been occupied after a battle. Over time this transferred to a habitational name for someone from a city, river or other geographical feature named something related to "fallen," such as Fallebach, which literally means "fallen brook." Alternatively, the name Föllen may have been derived from the Middle High German personal name Folaman, which contained the elements fol (people) and man (man) and would have been used to denote someone with a popular and trusted personality. In the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from a person’s given name, thus comparing the two suggests a possible relationship. Regardless of its precise origin, the surname Föllen is currently widespread and can be found in counties throughout the Germanic language area, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
Order DNA origin analysisFöllen: Where does the name Föllen come from?
The last name Föllen is a relatively uncommon surname, originating from Germany. Today, it is known to be mainly concentrated around the city of Köln (Cologne) in the country's North Rhine-Westphalia region. However, it is also found in various other parts of Germany, such as Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, and Baden-Wuerttemberg. There is also a significant presence of the surname in both Europe and the United States, with the highest concentration of Föllen's in the United States residing in California and Texas.
This is a relatively old surname, first appearing in records from 1220. It is derived from the German word 'vögeln' - meaning 'to twitter' - and suggests that its original bearer was known for their talkative nature. It is also believed that this surname was sourced with the prefix 'von'.
Today, you can find various members of the Föllen surname with various occupations. These include business, engineering, and the military. With a homeland in modern-day Germany, many descendants of this surname have emigrated over seas, settling in areas such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Although still uncommon, there are several thousand individuals across the world that share this unique last name.
Variations of the surname Föllen
The surname Föllen is most commonly found in Northern Germany and the general area of the German-Dutch border. It is believed to originate from northwestern Germany, probably from near the present-day border between Germany and the Netherlands.
It is likely that the name Föllen has been around since medieval times and was used for people living in, or around the Mecklenburg and Brandenburg regions. The most common spellings for the surname Föllen are Feollen, Follin, Follon, Föhlen, and Foellin. Other alternative spellings include Fallin, Foillin, Follens, Foellen, Föllingen, and Foellins.
Variant surnames may also exist for the Föllen surname, such as Forster, Foust, Fester, or Faeder. These variants are believed to be derived from the Low German and Dutch adjective Fost, meaning brave or courageous. Other variants could also stem from origin places, occupations, and nicknames. For example, there are possible variations such as Frellen (from the Old English “Frendel” meaning kindred) and Fierling (from the Old English “Feorlung” for forester).
The Föllen surname is also found in France, Belgium, and parts of the Netherlands. In France, the spelling is often varied as Feulin, Foelin, and Follain and in Belgium it is spelled as Vollen and Vaellen. In the Netherlands, the surname is often spelled as Völlen, Vollin, and Folens.
Overall, the Föllen surname has many spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. By tracing back the origin of the surname, researchers can gain better understanding of their own ancestry.
Famous people with the name Föllen
- Johannes Föllen: German silent film actor
- Hermann Föllen: 19th century painter
- Wolfgang Föllen: German journalist and author
- Gerhard Föllen: German business manager
- Erich Föllen Berger: German lawyer, banker and company executive
- Hans-Günther Föllen: 20th century German writer
- Julian Föllen: German chef and restaurateur
- Charly Föllen: German-Namibian singer
- Wilhelm Föllen: 19th century German geographer
- Helge Föllen: 20th century German inventor