Surname Fittke - Meaning and Origin
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Fittke: What does the surname Fittke mean?
The last name Fittke is of German origin, derived from the old German phrase “wer her fehlt, hier steht” which translates to “who is missing here stands”. There are several variations of the spelling of this name found throughout Germany, which include Fittge, Fittke, Fittigke, Fittig and Fittkau.
The name is believed to derive from a nickname given to a person who was unreliable or often absent, and is still found mostly in German speaking areas. In some cases, it can refer to a person who was a frequent traveller who came and went often and could not be relied on.
The Fittke name also appears in some old German records, most likely referring to an individual who had the nickname or was associated with it, rather than it being a hereditary surname. It also spread widely across Europe during the 19th century, when many Germans migrated to other countries.
Today, the Fittke surname is quite popular in Germany, although there is no known family crest or coat of arms associated with it. It may be an attractive option for those looking to reclaim their family roots in Germany and to trace their genealogical history.
Order DNA origin analysisFittke: Where does the name Fittke come from?
The last name Fittke is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, particularly Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It is also common among some Germanic populations in the United States, as well as in Canada.
The earliest records of the surname Fittke date back to the 16th century when the name was already common in some of the German regions. It is believed that Fittke is derived from the German term ‘fittig’, which means generous. Over time, the surname has evolved variousspelling variations, such as Fittke, Fittske, Fitske, Fitscher, Fitsch, Fitschert, and Fitchel.
The given name Fittke is still in use in Germany, Austria, and other parts of Europe. There are estimated to be around 1,400 people with the surname Fittke living in Europe today. In the United States, the Census Bureau estimates that approximately 500 people have the surname Fittke, and there are approximately 200 living in Canada.
As the Fittkes of Europe have immigrated to other parts of the world, many have adopted different spellings, creating a further spread of the name. The Fittke surname is thus found around the world, but is still most strongly rooted in Europe.
Variations of the surname Fittke
The surname Fittke has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Fittke, Fittkae, Fittka, Fittko, Fittkoh, Fitti, Fittich, Fittichs and Fittig.
The magical force of the surname dates back thousands of years, though the exact origin is often disputed, with many linking it to a Germanic or Anglo-Saxon form. However, the name is well-documented in Germany, particularly in the region of Silesia, where it was constructed using two parts: "fit" meaning "to fit" and "ke" meaning "place". This suggests that the original bearers of the surname were associated with either a specific place or profession related to measuring and tailoring.
Variations of the original Fittke surname appeared as early as the 14th century in Germany, and eventually spread across central Europe, as far as Poland and Czech Republic. By the 17th century the name was more widely recorded as Fittka, Fittkae, Fittko and Fitti, though the variation in spelling simply reflects changes in language and dialect. Across Europe, in-migration to the New World created even more variants of the name, such as Fittich and Fittichs.
The variants of the Fittke surname each play a part in its own unique history. From our current knowledge, these variants are all related to a common ancestor, and serve to reflect the changing of language and culture over the centuries. They remain an interesting way to trace familial connections, and a tool to keep that family history alive.
Famous people with the name Fittke
- Kelly Fittke: Kelly is an American attorney, author, and entrepreneur. She is best known for her involvement in Freedom and Framework EY, two organizational development firms specializing in helping companies shift their mindset from traditional to progressive thinking.
- Ryan Fittke: Ryan is an American professional BMX freestyle athlete who has won competitions such as the ABA World Championships and Road to X Games.
- Franklin Fittke: Franklin is a German fashion designer who has dressed many celebrities, including Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys, and Usher.
- Don Fittke: Don is an American entrepreneur, best known for being the founder and CEO of Firstload, a company that offers remote file storage and sharing.
- Tina Fittke: Tina is a German celebrity and TV host whose work has been seen in a wide variety of German television shows, including Die Alm, MTV Home and DAS!.
- Aaron Fittke: Aaron is an American music producer and recording artist, best known for producing and engineering albums for bands like Rise Against and As I Lay Dying.
- Eamonn Fittke: Eamonn is an Irish musician and singer-songwriter, known for his soulful voice and acoustic guitar playing.
- Emily Fittke: Emily is an American fitness coach and author of the book Unattainable: How to Intentionally Pursue Unreachable Goals.