Surname Fillmann - Meaning and Origin

Fillmann: What does the surname Fillmann mean?

The last name Fillmann is of German origin and means "one from the spring valley". The name is derived from the German words "fillen" meaning "spring" and "mann" meaning "man". It suggests that the original bearer of the name was either a man who lived near a spring, or a man who worked in some capacity with a spring.

In the Middle Ages, springs were often important sources of fresh water and the locales near them would have been highly sought after for human settlement. A man from such an area might have earned the surname Fillmann as an indicator of where he lived or worked. Additionally, it is possible that the name itself indicated that the original bearer of it was a well or springkeeper whose job was to keep those valuable sources of water in good repair and shape, carefully monitoring them and any changes in the water levels.

The name Fillmann is still found in Germany, mostly in the area of Northern Hesse, and is also found in other parts of the world where German immigrants settled. Today it remains a common surname among those of German heritage and serves as a reminder of the importance of water to early settlement and a connection to a specific location.

Fillmann: Where does the name Fillmann come from?

The last name Fillmann is most common in Austria today. It is estimated that there are around 500-600 people with the Fillmann surname living there. Elsewhere in Europe, the name can also be found in countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

In the United States, the Fillmann surname is most commonly found in Ohio, Texas, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. The population of Fillmanns in the U.S. is estimated to be around 1,500 people, mostly concentrated among rural and small town populations.

The surname Fillmann is derived from the Middle High German word "filman," meaning merchant. It is believed that the Original Fillmanns were traders who moved between the German, Austrian, Czech, and Bohemian lands, buying and selling goods. This would also explain why the surname is found in all these places today.

The Fillmann surname remains an uncommon one in the US, and its prevalence in other countries suggests that the family is mainly concentrated in areas where families have lived for generations.

Variations of the surname Fillmann

The surname Fillmann is derived from the Low German words “vull” and “mann,” which together mean “full man” or “rich man.” This surname has various spelling variants, such as Fuhlmann, Fehlmann, Feilmann, Ferlmann, Vehlmann, Fehlman, Feilman, Fulmann, Vuhlmann, and Feilmenn. In some places, it is also spelled as Fillmen, Filipen, Fellman, Fullman, and even Philen.

Variations in surnames are seen due to different linguistic influences in different regions, like in the Dutch-speaking Amish in Pennsylvania. In this case, Fillmann has been corrupted to spellings such as Fehlman, Feilman, and Feilmenn.

In the Central German region, the spelling of the surname is mostly Fühlmann, which has a different sound but the same meaning. This variant is often seen in spellings like Fidelmann, Fidelman, Fiedelman, Fitlman, and Fiedlman.

In Russia, Fillman is sometimes spelt as Fyolkman. In Sweden, it is often written as Filipson. The German Americans also changed the surname to Fuellman, Fillman, Fuhlman, and Fuhlmann. The same can be said about the name Fillmann in Australia, except it appears more often as Fuhlman and Fuhlmann.

The Fillmann surname appears differently in countries all over the world, ranging from Fillman and Fehlmann to Fyolkman and Fuhlmann. No matter how it is spelled, the name all signifies “full man” and has the same origins.

Famous people with the name Fillmann

• Tanja Fillmann: German news presenter
• Sarah Fillmann: German marketing entrepreneur
• Tom Fillmann: Actor who starred in "The Tax Collector" and "Man of War"
• Mandy Fillmann: Character from the "Mob Psycho 100" manga
• Alphons Fillmann: 19th century sculptor who created public memorials in Germany
• Kelly Fillmann: Model who has been featured in "Playboy" and "Maxim" magazines
• Michael Fillmann: American soccer player
• Peter Fillmann: German engineer and inventor
• Jeff Fillmann: Former minor league baseball pitcher
• Lucas Fillmann: Argentinian basketball player

Other surnames

Fillman