Surname Greiner-Fuchs - Meaning and Origin
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Greiner-Fuchs: What does the surname Greiner-Fuchs mean?
The surname Greiner-Fuchs is a composite surname that is composed of the two Germanic surnames Greiner and Fuchs. The meaning of Greiner is “green” or “greenfield” in Old High German, while Fuchs is German for “fox”. This surname could therefore mean “greenfield fox” or a “greenfield's fox”, probably referring to an ancestor who was associated with a greenfield and a fox.
The Greiner-Fuchs surname could also refer to a remote place of origin. The prefix "Greiner" suggests that the family likely originated from a place called "Grein" or "Greiner". This place name could point to places found in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany. These places typically are villages near forests or hills; some of them are even named "Greenfield Hill", referring to the former meaning of the Greiner prefix.
The Greiner-Fuchs surname could also suggest a connection to the German Jewish culture, as "fuchs" is the Yiddish word for “fox”. People of Jewish descent with this surname could have roots that connect them to villages with a Jewish population in the Middle Ages.
Therefore, the last name Greiner-Fuchs likely deriving from two separate Germanic roots, and could have a range of interpretations. Depending on the place of origin, it could also serve as an indicator of Jewish ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisGreiner-Fuchs: Where does the name Greiner-Fuchs come from?
The last name Greiner-Fuchs is originally of German origin and is now most commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This surname has been found to be one of the most numerous surnames in Germany dating back to the 13th century. The usage of this last name is still prominent here, with a large number of native-born Germans possessing it today.
The name has also spread throughout the world, and is present in countries with large diasporas such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. One of the most notable possessors of this name was Richard Greiner-Fuchs, an Austrian politician who served as Minister of Agriculture in 1915.
The Greiner-Fuchs surname is derived from the combination of two German words; "grein" meaning grain or corn, and "fuchs" meaning fox. There are several theories as to the origin of this name. The most likely explanation is that it was originally given to someone who worked in the grain harvest, showed agility and intelligence while working. Furthermore, heraldic records show that the original bearers of the Greiner-Fuchs surname had foxes depicted on their emblem.
The name Greiner-Fuchs is still an extremely common surname in German-speaking countries as well as those across the diasporic communities today.
Variations of the surname Greiner-Fuchs
The Greiner-Fuchs surname is widely used by families across continents and has various spellings and variants depending on the language of origin.
In English, the name can be spelled Greiner or Greener, as well as Grein(e)r-Fuchs. It is also common to see it spelled with an "i" instead of an "e", becoming Greiner-Fuchs.
In German, the surname is usually written as Greiner-Fuchs, Greiner-Fux, and Greiner-Fock. In some instances, it may also be written with an "e" instead of an "o", becoming Greiner-Fecks or Greiner-Feck.
In Polish, the surname could be spelt Greiner-Fuchs, Greiner-Fux, Greiner-Fock, Grener-Fuchs, Grener-Fux, Grener-Fock, Griner-Fuchs, Griner-Fux, Griner-Fock, Greiner-Fucz or Greiner-Fuks.
In Hungarian, the surname may appear as either Greiner-Fuchs or Grener-Fuchs.
Variants of the Greiner-Fuchs surname also appear in other languages like Spanish, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, French, and other European languages.
The numerous spellings and variants of the surname can cause confusion for those looking for ancestry or researching their family history. However, it is important to remember that all of these spellings refer to the same origin, and therefore, they may be used interchangeably.
Famous people with the name Greiner-Fuchs
- Kurt Greiner-Fuchs (German banker and politician)
- Susanne Greiner-Fuchs (American museologist and art historian)
- Claudia Greiner-Fuchs (Austrian CEO and Commissioner for the Austrian Olympic and Paralympic Committee)
- Karl Greiner-Fuchs (Austrian botanist, owner of the Greiner-Fuchs Herbarium)
- Florian Greiner-Fuchs (Swiss actor and filmmaker)
- Richard Greiner-Fuchs (Austrian actor and musician)
- Etel Greiner-Fuchs (German journalist)
- Frieder Greiner-Fuchs (German actor and writer)
- Robert Greiner-Fuchs (Austrian sculptor and painter)
- Tilly Greiner-Fuchs (German film director and screenwriter)