Surname Faß - Meaning and Origin
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Faß: What does the surname Faß mean?
The last name Faß is a German surname which is derived from the word Fass, a type of barrel typically used for storing liquids (Fass is German for "barrel"). The original meaning or origin of the surname Faß is unclear and research has found that it is not associated with any particular area of Germany as it appears in records across the entire country. As suggested by the meaning of the surname, it is likely that the family were involved in a form of trade or farming where barrels were used to store and transport goods.
The earliest reference of this German surname dates back to 1574 in Germany and the name was originally spelled Fas, Fass or Faz. Over the years, this spelling has been altered to become Faß with an additional ß at the end and this is the spelling which is often seen today.
It is thought that families bearing the Faß surname were occupational in origin, meaning that it was derived from a person's line of work. In fact, in the mid 17th century, there is some evidence of a Hans Faß working as a Barrelmaker in Mainz, Germany. In addition, a Hans Faß was party to a contract in Frankfurt in 1675, again likely related to barrels.
The Faß surname is not common today and is thought to be found in the vast majority of cases amongst the South German population.
Order DNA origin analysisFaß: Where does the name Faß come from?
The last name Faß (sometimes written Fass or Fas) is a German surname that is still quite common today. It is especially found in Germany, where it is ranked as one of the country’s top 200 surnames. It is found in large numbers throughout Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria and several other German states as well.
In addition to Germany, Faß is also found in Austria and other German-speaking lands, including parts of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg, where it is generally more uncommon.
Outside of Europe, Faß can be found among expatriate German communities in countries like the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Among those of German heritage in the United States, Faß is most common in states with a significant German-American population, such as California, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Texas.
As with many German surnames, the etymology of Faß is disputed. It has been commonly thought to mean “barrel” and perhaps referred to a barrel maker or cooper, but some linguists suggest that it may have originally been derived from the ancient Germanic name Fosswald, which means “forest power.” In any case, the Faß surname has been passed down for centuries and is still quite common today.
Variations of the surname Faß
The surname Faß is a German surname originating from southwestern Germany and is derived from the word “Fass”, which can be translated as barrel or cask. The surname was likely first adopted by those who made or sold barrels, casks, kegs or tuns.
The variants, spellings and other surnames of similar origin include Fass, Fas, Fasse, Faso, Faes, Fais, Fasson, Fasshauer, Fassbender, Fassbinder, and Fasselmann.
Fass is the most common variant of the surname Faß, with around 27,000 people in Germany alone with this variant. The variant Fas is the next most common, with around 1,200 people. Fasse is the third most common variant, with 600 people, while Faso, Faes, Fais, Fasson, Fasshauer, Fassbender, Fassbinder, and Fasselmann all have fewer than 200 people with these variants.
The surname may also have taken on alternate spellings in different regions outside of Germany, due to varying pronunciations and spellings of the word “Fass”. Variants of the surname Fass could possibly include Faz, Foz, and Fauss. These alternative spellings appear to exist in areas such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.
In summary, the surname Faß has various variants, spellings, and other surnames of similar origin. These include Fass, Fas, Fasse, Faso, Faes, Fais, Fasson, Fasshauer, Fassbender, Fassbinder, Fasselmann, Faz, Foz, and Fauss.
Famous people with the name Faß
- Benjamin Faß, German-Jewish artist and cartoonist
- Sebastian Faß, German ice hockey player
- Nicolas Faßbender, German cinematographer
- Jonathan Faß, German ice dancer
- Uli Faß, German writer and journalist
- Gerald Faß, German tennis player
- Peter Faß, Austrian musician
- Timo Faß, German musician
- Oliver Faß, German football player 10. Fred Faß, American actor
- Fred Faß, American composer
- Spike Fass, American film director
- Käthe Fass, German writer
- Kai Faßbender, German film director
- Don Faß, American jazz double-bassist
- Jan Faßbender, German sound designer
- Marc Fassbender, American cinematographer
- Mirko Faßbender, German film director
- Farrell Faßbender, American singer-songwriter
- Günter Faßbender, German painter