Surname Feisst - Meaning and Origin

Feisst: What does the surname Feisst mean?

The German surname Feisst is traditionally an occupational name, referring to a tailor or cloth manufacturer. The name derives from the Old High German word "vîsari," which translates literally to "weaver" as well as a figurative connotation of "creator." As such, the surname likely arose from a trade practiced by an earlier ancestor—likely quite common during the Middle Ages throughout Germany.

The Feisst surname may have referred to a master tailor, or it could have been an occupational meaning similar to Smith—a craftsman or artisan whose trade was of a clothier. Consequently, the surname could translate as one who was expertly skilled in creating and sewing clothing, or simply as "cloth-maker."

Even though the surname originated from an occupation, much like other occupational surnames the Feisst name could have been used to refer to geographical locations, areas or persons in its early days. There are a few villages that bear the name Feisst in Germany today, which could indicate the origin of those who originally carried this surname.

Although this surname has stood the test of time, it has changed over the centuries, and alternative spellings can be found such as “Veiss,” “Völsst,” or “Vössist.” Despite this, the heritage and legacy of the Feisst name are still traceable today.

Feisst: Where does the name Feisst come from?

The last name Feisst is most commonly found today in Germany. According to Ancestry’s Germany surname distribution map, Feisst is especially concentrated in the east of the country, mostly around parts of Brandenburg, Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, and the city of Leipzig.

In more recent years, the Feisst surname has spread to other countries, particularly to the United States. While still relatively rare, Feisst can be found in both English- and German-speaking households in the United States.

Elsewhere in the world, one will also find concentrations of Feisst families in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Australia, China and other countries.

Due to the popularity of the surname in Germany and other countries around the world, Feisst is a relatively common name today. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 individuals around the world that currently bear the Feisst surname.

Variations of the surname Feisst

The surname Feisst is of German origin and is spelled in a number of different ways in various languages and geographical locations.

In German, the spelling is most commonly seen as Feisst, but can also be written as Feyst, Pfeisst, Faisst, Feysst, Vaisst and Pfeyst.

In other areas of Europe, Feisst may also be spelt as Faist, Feist, Faisten, Faister, Faisstein, Faissle, Fesst, Festa, Feistel, Faisal, Feszter and Faisz.

In the United States, the family name can be found as Faist, Faisten, Faistor, Fassel, Vaissel, Feist, Feistel and Fessl.

The various spellings of the surname Feisst can also be seen as surnames such as Faust, Feyst, Peisst, Faisst, Festa, Faister, Fesler, Ollenfeist and Vaissel.

In addition, the name can be found as the patronymic surnames of Feisstal, Feystel, Feistl and Pfeistl.

Although the spelling of the surname is varied, the origin remains the same and is traced to a Medieval German word meaning ‘fist’. It was originally given as a nickname for a strong or powerful individual.

Famous people with the name Feisst

• Gisela Feisst: Classical pianist and recording artist. Carries out significant concert tours in Germany and Austria regularly.
• Roman Feisst: Professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for the Augsburger Panthers.
• Heinz Feisst: Former professional racing driver from Austria. Finished on the podiums many times.
• David Michael Feisst: American film director, producer, and writer.
• Sepp Feisst: World renowned German xylophone and marimba artist.
• Helmut Feisst: Austrian sculptor.
• Peter Feisst: German gourmet chef, TV chef, and cookbook author.
• Johannes Feisst: Professional baseball player, currently playing for the Brother Elephants baseball team in Taiwan.
• Gerhard Feisst: German Professor of Business Administration and Management, Advisor to the German Government and the United Nations Organizations.
• Christian Feisst: Swiss architect and urban designer.

Other surnames

Feiss