Surname Faßer - Meaning and Origin
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Faßer: What does the surname Faßer mean?
The last name Faßer is of German origin and has a variety of meanings. It may have originated from the Low German dialect ‘faßen’, which means ‘to enclose’, and may have been used for a farmer who owned a ‘fenced-in’ piece of land. This interpretation suggests that the name became associated with someone who had some influence or position of rank within a community. Alternatively, it could have derived from a shortened version of 'Vassar' meaning 'transporter of goods' and referring to a merchant or trader, or someone who was employed by a wealthy family. Faßer can also be derived from the Old German word ‘vasar’, indicating a keeper of a vessel or a custodian, such as a steward in a medieval lordship. This name suggests that someone bearing it had taken on the responsibilities of administering a lordship or settlement.
The surname may also refer to someone who was involved in making or selling wine barrels, as ‘faß’ means ‘barrel’ or ‘cask’ in German. The prefix ‘Fas’ may also refer to someone who was associated with the making of tools or weapons. The first recorded use of the name is believed to be from 1348, when it was listed as Conrad der Vasser in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Overall, the various meanings of Faßer all suggest that the originator of the name had some sort of position or livelihood within a community or governance.
Order DNA origin analysisFaßer: Where does the name Faßer come from?
The last name Faßer is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. The earliest known usage of the name was in the form of Von Fassen, and was associated with aristocratic families in certain areas of Germany, in a region that is now part of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The name is also known to be connected to Hebrew families who immigrated to Germany, with the name being used in records as early as the 14th century.
The modern spelling of the surname Faßer is a shortened version of the original Von Fassen, with the letter s replaced by the German letter ß, known as the Eszett. Today, the name’s prevalence in its modern spelling has significantly decreased over the centuries. This likely has to do with the fact that the Eszett became rather unpopular because of its connection to Nazi Germany, with its prevalence dropping even more after World War II.
Nevertheless, the occurrence of people bearing the last name Faßer is still relatively high in certain areas of Germany and Austria. The majority of people with the last name Faßer are found in the southern German federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The concentration of people with the last name Faßer is much higher in the northern part of Bavaria, around the Bavarian city of Passau and Nuremberg. The Austrian city of Vienna also shows a clear increase of personal bearing the surname Faßer.
Variations of the surname Faßer
The surname Faßer is an occupational surname of German origin, which comes from the German word “Faß” meaning barrel or cask. Variations of the spelling of the surname Faßer include Fass, Fasser, Fasser, Fas, Fassl, Fest, Fasel, and Fesl. Alternate spellings include Faßmann, Fassmann, Fasmann, Fesmann, and Fessmann. Patronymic variants derived from the surname include Faßerling and Fasseling.
Fass is the most common spelling variant of Faßer and can be traced further back to northern region of Switzerland, where the surname is thought to have originated. It is recorded from as early as 1330, in the Rohrschacher Chronik. Both Fass and Faßer are also found in the Palatinate region of Germany, near the Rhine.
In Switzerland, the surname is now more commonly spelled as Fasser. This spelling is found in the Swiss Canton of Appenzell as well as in the Thurgau region of Switzerland. This spelling is also found in the French Alsace region, which borders the Rhine in eastern France.
In Germany, the surname can also take the form of Fas, Fassl or Fassler. This variant has spread to other parts of Germany, particularly Bavaria and Saxony. The spelling Fasel is also found in northwestern Germany, in the Rhineland-Palatinate region near the Rhine.
The spelling variant Fesl can be found in the southeastern region of German, in the area of Bohemia. This spelling could be attributed to the influence of the Czech language in the region. The variants Fesmann and Fessmann are also likely related to the Fesl variant.
Finally, the Faßer surname has many patronymic variants, derived from the name Faßer. The most common is Faßerling, which is found throughout Germany, but especially in the southern area of Bavaria. The variant Fasseling is also found in some areas, primarily in the area of Bavaria.
Famous people with the name Faßer
- Philipp Fasser: Swiss modern pentathlete who won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Modern Pentathlon Championships.
- Noel Faßer: German sprint canoeist who won two bronze medals at the 2008 European Championships.
- Richard Faßer: Swiss ice hockey player who competed for Switzerland in the 1930s.
- Dina Faßer: German athlete who competed mainly in the sprints.
- Hans Faßer: Swiss bobsledder who won three gold medals in the four-man Bobsleigh event at the 1936 Winter Olympics.
- Benny Faßer: Dutch footballer who played for Ajax Amsterdam and SV Dresden-Friedrichstadt between 1957 and 1968.
- Heinz Faßer: German field hockey player who competed for his country in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Freerk Faßer: Dutch rower who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Clemens Faßer: German speed skater who represented his country at the 1968 Winter Olympics.
- Julius Faßer: German doctor and Olympic athlete who competed in the marathon event at the 1936 Summer Olympics.