Surname Fölger - Meaning and Origin
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Fölger: What does the surname Fölger mean?
The last name Fölger is a Germanic surname and is closely related to the English name Pilgrim. The English translation of the name would be something like “he who follows” or “he who travels after”. The origins of this surname are debatable, but one theory suggests that it arose out of a profession – in this case a traveler who followed someone else.
The verb ‘folgen’, which means “to follow” in German, is thought to be the root of the name Fölger. Its usage as a last name likely arose in the late medieval period, when a father passed his name on to his son to signify a shared profession. The pilgramage and religious pilgrimages of the time no doubt meant there were many Fölgers following in the same footsteps.
The surname Fölger can still be found in many parts of Germany, and is also present in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. It may be the name of someone from a specific region, or it may identify a member of a particular family. No matter its origin, Fölger still stands as an interesting reminder of those who have gone before us, and an inspiration of those who follow still.
Order DNA origin analysisFölger: Where does the name Fölger come from?
The last name Fölger is a German surname that is mainly found in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also sometimes found in countries with large German immigrant populations, such as the United States and Canada.
The surname Fölger can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was used as a common German word for "traveller" or "trailblazer." The name was eventually adopted as a personal name by those who traveled far from home, and eventually became a surname.
Today, the surname Fölger is still found throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where it is especially popular in the southwestern parts of the country. Due to Germany's sizeable population, it is also relatively common in the United States and Canada.
The surname Fölger is still popular for its sound and ties to the past, but has also evolved significantly over the years. Today, many modern variations of the name, including Felger, Fögeler, and Folgar, can be found in different parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Fölger
The surname Fölger has several variants and spellings, as well as many surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Folger, Fullger, Fulgar, Fuerger, Fölcker, Fölgers, and Fölker. These surname variations often happen when immigrants change their original names to ones that are more easily pronounced or written in their new language/country.
The German surname Fölger originally was derived from the Middle High German word 'vulger', which means 'teacher' or 'instructor'. Therefore, those with the Fölger surname likely had ancestors who were teachers or instructors.
Variants of Fölger also originate from English, with the surname 'Fueller' coming from the Old English word 'fugol', meaning 'bird', and, by extension, 'hunter'. This would later become the English surname 'Fuller'.
The Dutch surname 'Foeleger' has a similar origin, coming from the Low German 'vlouger', which also means 'teacher'. This likely developed in the Netherlands.
Many other surnames have similar derivations, including Vuellginger (a surname common in Northern Germany), Voelker, and Volckers, which all originate from the Middle High German 'volgger', meaning 'teacher'.
Finally, a related surname is 'Fuger', which comes from the region of Swabia in Germany. It is derived from the Swabian word 'vugger', which means 'leader of the goods', or 'carrier of goods'.
In conclusion, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Fölger. Many of these are derived from the Middle High German word 'vulger', which is similar in sound and meaning to other languages. This shows that Fölger is a very widespread and popular surname.
Famous people with the name Fölger
- Ludwig Fölger (1807–1872): German physician and medical researcher.
- Erwin Fölger (1890–1963): Austrian opera singer.
- Adele Fölger (1893–1970): German art historian and museum director.
- Hertha Fölger (1898–1991): German painter and illustrator.
- Arthur Fölger (1901–1988): Swiss painter and sculptor.
- Max Fölger (1904–1987): Austrian sculptor and graphic artist.
- Herta Fölger (1909–1994): Austrian clarinetist.
- Franz Fölger (1910–1972): German athlete and physical education teacher.
- Christa Fölger (1929–1996): Austrian author and journalist.
- Amalie Fölger (born 1932): Swiss historian and author.