Surname Failenschmid - Meaning and Origin

Failenschmid: What does the surname Failenschmid mean?

The last name Failenschmid is thought to have originated from two sources: "Faillen", a German term for "defeat," and "Schmidt", a common German surname which means "blacksmith" or "metal worker." Put together, the name can be translated to mean something along the lines of "one who works with metal and is defeated." This could either refer to a blacksmith who was unsuccessful in their work, or to a soldier who failed in battle.

The surname may also have been derived from a location—the combination “Felsen-Schmied” is a common place name in certain areas of Germany, translating to "rocky smithy." In some contexts it could refer to a blacksmith who worked with metal ore from rocky locations, and in others it could be a reflection of a rocky fortification that was unsuccessful in defending against an attack.

Failenschmid is still a somewhat uncommon German surname, and is most commonly found in the Bavarian region of Lower Franconia. In the past, the families may have moved to other parts of Germany and Europe, and as a result people with similar surnames such as Failenschmidt, Falenschmid, Failenschmidt, and Falenschmidt may exist.

Overall, the last name Failenschmid appears to be reflective of a history involving either someone who worked with metal or someone who was defeated. No matter the exact origin, the name continues to be found and passed down through families in locations throughout Germany and elsewhere.

Failenschmid: Where does the name Failenschmid come from?

The last name Failenschmid is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, as well as its variants "Feilenschmid" and "Veilenschmid." In Germany, it can be found in many areas, such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse. In Austria, this surname is the most common in Styria, Upper Austria, and Lower Austria. As of 2020, it is also popular in countries like Croatia, Hungary, and Switzerland.

The name is thought to be derived from the German phrase "feilen schmied," which translates to "file smith." This likely indicates that the original bearer of the name was a specialist craftsman who specialized in working with files. It is also possible that the name could have originated from the Middle High German phrase "velen schmidt," which means "village smith."

The Failenschmid name is quite popular in many countries in Europe. While it has some smaller regional variations, it is a family name that continues to be well-known and shared among generations. The strong historical and cultural connotations of the name make it a unique and valuable asset to anyone with the Failenschmid surname.

Variations of the surname Failenschmid

Failenschmid is a surname of German origin. The surname is derived from the Middle High German “fähin” or “vähin” which means “judge”. This indicates that the bearers of the surname originally worked as judges or lawyers.

Variants and spellings of the Failenschmid surname include Failen-Schmid, Failenschmied, Failenschmidt, Faileschmidt, Failschmidt, Feyleschmid, Feyleschmidt, Fiellenschmidt, Filsmied, Vailschmidt and Vailsmied.

Other surnames of the same origin include Fairless, Failer, Fasold, Faibisch, Fiebig, Feibisch, Feyly, Vaisman, Vail, Faigin, Faitsma, Feisel, Feiselmaier, Feissner and Feltner.

The surname is present in many parts of the world, including many countries throughout Europe, as well as North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand.

In some cases, the surname has been altered due to immigration or colonization, such as the Filipino surname Pailenschmiedt. This altered form of the surname is derived from the original Failenschmid with the addition of the Germanic/Austrian suffix of -t at the end of the name. Additionally, many of the variants of the Failenschmid surname may have been altered due to variations in pronunciation over time.

Famous people with the name Failenschmid

• Friedrich Wilhelm Failenschmid (1747-1813), German classical composer and music theorist
• Leonore Failenschmid (1816-1880), German novelist
• Oskar Failenschmid (1870-1940), German-born American architect
• Joseph John Failenschmid (1880-1966), Austrian-American painter
• Alfred Failenschmid (1884-1959), Austrian physician and sports official
• Otto Failenschmid (1904-1983), German-born American banker
• Franz Failenschmid (1909-1991), Austrian-American physicist
• Bruno Failenschmid (1917-1999), Austrian-born American artist
• Helmut Failenschmid (1919-1989), German agricultural engineer
• Gonzalo Failenschmid (1920-2008), Argentine-born actor and playwright
• Sara E. Failenschmid (1921-2007), American artist and educator
• Adriana Failenschmid (1924-2011), Argentine actress, author and poet
• Daniel Failenschmid (b. 1940), Mexican businessman
• Andreas Failenschmid (b. 1947), Austrian diplomat
• Christopher Failenschmid (b. 1967), German-American musician

Other surnames

Failenschmidt