Surname Fastabend - Meaning and Origin
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Fastabend: What does the surname Fastabend mean?
The last name Fastabend is of German/Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is believed to have been derived from the Middle High German word ‘fastebeinde’ which literally means ‘fastened behind’. The term refers to an agricultural practice involving quickly binding the sheaves of grain that had been cut and stacked in the field. This binding was often done late in the afternoon, which is why the name can also be translated to mean ‘Fast Evening’.
The name Fastabend has been found in records dating back to the early 1700s. During this time it was a common form of family name among those living in Northern Germany, although it is likely that it has roots in the Rhineland as well. It is believed that the original family who adopted this name were farmers, most likely working on the smallholdings and grainfields of that region.
Fastabend is an unusual and distinctive name, and is most commonly found in statements of religion and residence records for those of Jewish descent. It is still used as a surname today, although how widespread it is has changed over the years. It has migrated away from its original German roots and is now found in a variety of countries around the world, most notably the United States where it is seen as an uncommon but interesting name.
Order DNA origin analysisFastabend: Where does the name Fastabend come from?
The last name Fastabend is mainly found in North America throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It has Germanic origins and is most commonly found among German-speaking and Slovak-speaking populations today. It is also found in smaller numbers in other countries with German-speaking populations such as Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
Although the name is most prevalent in Germany, it first appears in records from English-speaking North America in the 1600s. Early records note primarily Pennsylvania Dutch with the surname Fastabend. It is the Americanization of the Germanic surname Vastabend, which translates to 'early evening' or ‘end of the day’.
The surname Fastabend is still relatively common in the United States with a population of just over 5,400 in 2020. It is comparatively more common in the states of Pennsylvania, Washington, and Minnesota. Similarly, there are approximately 7,400 records of individuals bearing the name Fastabend in Canada.
Many records suggest that immigrants with this last name often Anglicized their names from Fastabend to Vantabend, Festerling, Vasterling, and Vastbinder. It is possible that some individuals with varying spellings of the name in current records are descendants of these immigrants.
Overall, the name Fastabend appears in highest abundance in Germany and North America. Although few in number, individuals with this surname can be found in other countries with Germanic populations as well.
Variations of the surname Fastabend
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Fastabend include Faddabundi, Fastabend, Fastaband, Fustaband, Fustaband, and Fustabent.
Faddabundi is the most commonly seen variant and is likely derived from the Latin word "fassus," meaning tired. The other five variants of the surname can be thought of as derivations of this form.
Fastabend, sometimes seen as Fasstabend, is the direct German form of the name and means "evening fast." This indicates that the family likely practiced the ancient religious traditions of fasting before sundown.
Fastaband is a variant of Fastabend, while Fustaband is likely a form of "Fastenbund" or "fasting society." This compound name likely conveys a meaning of an organized assembly that regularly fasts. Fustabent is likely a variant of Fustaband and another derivation of Fastenbund.
The broader significance of the family name lies in the likelihood of being of ancient religious heritage. This stems from the repeated references to fasting, which is a common practice in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions.
The religious origin of the surname Fastabend creates a meaningful connection across generations that can serve as a source of pride and identity for the families that bear the name.
Famous people with the name Fastabend
- Matt Fastabend: Professional snowboarder who was crowned the U.S. Snowboardcross National Champion in 2014.
- Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: Marine biologist and prominent environmental thinker, who is a descendant of the Fastabend family.
- Laura Fastabend: 19th century German-American businesswoman who owned a bakery in San Francisco.
- H.D. Fastabend: Early 20th century American politician from the state of Illinois who served as the 54th Lieutenant Governor from 1933 until 1937.
- John R. Fastabend: LTG (Retired), former Director for Force Structure, Resources and Assessments, J-8, The Joint Staff, United States Department of Defense.
- Mary Fastabend: Film director and composer, best known for her work on the Emmy Award-winning television documentaries The Voice of the Choctaw Nation and The Choctaw Trail of Tears.
- Cliff Fastabend: Former defensive end in the National Football League who played from 1963 until 1968 for the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Ann Fastabend: American professional golfer who was inducted into the Wisconsin State Golf Association Hall of Fame three times.
- Paul Fastabend: American professional wrestler who competed in the WWE from the late 1960s until the early 1980s.
- Robert Fastabend: American physicist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who is known for his work in the field of nuclear physics.