Surname Feinen - Meaning and Origin
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Feinen: What does the surname Feinen mean?
The last name Feinen is an occupational surname of German origin. As a patronymic name, it is derived from the name Fenon or Fein, which was likely carried by a family of professional or semi-professional leather workers in medieval Germany. This name was also the root for other variations such as Feiner, Feinmann, and Pfenning.
In the Middle Ages, leather-working was a very important craft, with tanneries operating all over Central Europe and in some parts of the British Isles. Leather was used for a variety of items, including garments, shoes, and accessories. A particular type of leather-working was tanning animal hides, which was a practice carried out by people with a specific set of skills, who were known as “fenons” or “feiners”.
Due to the nature of the job, the occupational surname Feinen likely became attached to families of leather-workers. It is likely that the families who used this name came from an area that was home to tanneries, but today, the name is not limited to any one part of the world.
In modern times, the name Feinen is usually associated with people of German descent, although it can be found among cosmopolitan, international populations. The name is often found among individuals who are well-educated and are involved in professions that involve travelling or at least involve other cultures and languages. This name can also be a sign of people who are passionate about their work, as it was a craft that required immense skill and attention to detail.
Order DNA origin analysisFeinen: Where does the name Feinen come from?
The last name Feinen is most commonly found in Germany today. Since the 1500s, it has been a popularly used last name in Germany and other parts of Europe. As of 2017, more than 18,000 people in Germany made use of the Feinen surname. Interestingly, the highest concentration of this surname is in the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein, which borders Denmark. It is also quite popular in the states of Hamburg and Lower Saxony, which are close to the coast.
The Feinen name is believed to have derived from a Mideval name, Fredinand, meaning ‘protection’ or ‘the adventurer’. It could also have been derived from the German word ‘fein’, which could mean ‘nice, fine, or delicate’. This is why the Feinen family crest is often a falcon or eagle in flight, as a symbol of their positive traits and adventurous spirit.
The Feinen surname is a popular surname today, not only in Germany, but in several other European countries, including Austria and Switzerland. It is also popping up with greater frequency in other parts of the world as Germans or Europeans immigrate and settle in new areas.
Variations of the surname Feinen
Feinen is a surname of German origin. Spelled variously, the surname Feinen could also be Fienen, Feinem, Feinan, Feinen, Feinin, Feining, Feininger, Finen, Finean, and Finer. These variations likely stem from the practice of German immigrants using different spellings of their surnames upon arriving in other countries.
The variants of the surname Feinen indicate descent from certain German regions. For example, Feininger is often associated with the Rhineland-Palatinate region in western Germany. Strictly following German conventions of surname spelling, Feinin is a variation found in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. In the region of Mecklenburg in northeast Germany, Fienen is commonly used.
The only recorded variations of Feinen used as actual surnames are Fienen and Feinin. The other spellings are considered to be phonetic transcriptions, typically made by officials in public settings such as census documents.
To make matters more confusing, some of these variants are also used for different surnames, such as Feinagel or Fienagel. Other surnames that share the same roots include Feintuch, Feinberg, Finanger, Finenberg, and Finamore.
Overall, the surname Feinen has a wide variety of spellings, variants, and surnames associated with it. Understanding these variations is key to tracing the ancestry of those bearing the surname.
Famous people with the name Feinen
1.John Feinen: CEO of Align Technology, Inc 2.Catherine Feinen: Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cleveland State University 3.John Feinen: Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of Merchant International Group (MIG) 4.Bob Feinen: Managing Partner at Think Resources, Inc. 5.Steven Feinen: Co-Founder and President of Creative Strategies, Inc. 6.Lon Feinen: President and Co-Owner of The Helzberg Group 7.David Feinen: CEO of Rush University Medical Center 8.Ron Feinen: Founder and CEO of Right Management 9.Shelly Feinen: Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Microsoft 10.Chester Feinen: Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Chief Marketing Officer at Apple Inc.