Surname Federli - Meaning and Origin
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Federli: What does the surname Federli mean?
The last name Federli (or Fäderli, depending on the dialect of German) is a German-Swiss surname derived from the Middle High German word "Veder," meaning "feather". This indicates that the family likely had some connection to the textile industry in which feathers were used. It is likely that the family was of Middle High German roots, which is a language spoken in Germany and Switzerland in the Medieval era.
Federli is one of the most widely distributed Swiss surnames, likely due to the fact that it is a relatively short, memorable name. It is still used in Switzerland and other German speaking countries today, though its popularity has decreased over time. It is most common in the Swiss canton of Basel-Landschaft and can found in the form of Fäderli in German speaking regions of Austria.
For those with the last name Federli, its original meaning may have some relevance. The feather is associated with many different things, such as strength, speed, agility, or even freedom, which suggest that the surname could be connected to ideas of lightness and freedom of movement. It can also be a reflection of the qualities that the original family was known for, or had aspirations towards. For example, the name could be connected to qualities of someone who was inventive, creative, or daring.
Order DNA origin analysisFederli: Where does the name Federli come from?
The last name Federli is most commonly found in German-speaking countries in Europe, particularly Switzerland. According to records, it is believed that the name has its roots in the area of Switzerland near the Alps. The name is relatively rare elsewhere in the world. Although it is not among the 100 most common surnames in the world,Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has reported that Federli is one of the most popular surnames within its jurisdiction.
The surname Federli is composed of two German words, Fauler, meaning "fallow," and Lier, meaning "forest." This implies that the surname may have originated from someone who lived in a region with large tracts of fallow forests. Alternatively, it may have been derived from the occupation of a person who harvested trees in such forests.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees reports that the last name Federli is most heavily concentrated in the canton (state) of Basel-Stadt, which is located in central Switzerland on the western side of the country. Other German-speaking countries, including Austria,Germany, and Liechtenstein, also show high concentrations of Federlis.
Given its German-Swiss origin, it should come as no surprise that most variations of the Federli surname have remained confined to the German-speaking world. While Federlis may be scattered about in other parts of the globe, the highest concentrations continue to be in Switzerland, Germany, and other parts of Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Federli
The surname Federli is an uncommon German family name derived from the Old High German and Old Dutch words “fedor,” which means “hero,” and “leit,” which means “believers.” Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Fedorly, Federley, Fedorlyh, Fiedorly, Fedorleyh, and Fedorlick.
The surname Federli is found mostly in Switzerland, Austria, and the United States, where there are thousands of surnames that trace back to the Feller and Feller family. Variations of this surname can also be found in countries such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Russia and England.
Federli is generally a spelling variation of Federley. It is also sometimes referred to as “Federly” or even “Fedorly”. These versions are mostly found in the parts of Switzerland and Austria where the name is most popular.
In some cases, the surname Fiedorly is used instead of the more standard spelling of Federli. This is likely due to different dialects of German and Old High German/Old Dutch still being spoken in some areas. In addition, other surnames of the same origin are Fedorleyh, Fedorlick, and Fedorleyh.
The spelling variations of the surname Federli typically come from different regional dialects or from phonetic spelling of the name. It is interesting to note that there are many variations of the name, however, they still trace back to the same Old High German/Old Dutch root words, meaning “heroes” and “believers”.
Famous people with the name Federli
- Mayer Carl Federli (painter)
- William Federli (special effects artist)
- Leonard J. Federli (chemist and translator)
- Eberhard Federli (businessman and entrepreneur)
- Simone Federli (artist and fashion designer)
- Jean-Marc Federli (photojournalist)
- Gregory L. Federli (electrical engineer)
- Rock Federli (musician and songwriter)
- Eduardo Federli (athlete and coach)
- Carson Federli (musician and guitarist)