Surname Foskue - Meaning and Origin
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Foskue: What does the surname Foskue mean?
The last name Foskue has a history and origin that has been traced back to the Scandinavian countries of Norway and Sweden. It is a patronymic surname which means that it is derived from the first name of a person's paternal ancestor.
The original spelling of the surname Foskue was Foske, which comes from the Old Norse personal name Fóskr. This was an ancient name meaning "divine knowledge" or "magical power". It is thought that this name was popular among Viking families, and gradually spread to other areas throughout Europe.
In the present day, the last name Foskue is used mainly in the United States and Canada. It is still an uncommon last name, ranking just above 15,000th most popular in the US. It is also uncommon in England and Scotland. It is speculated that those who bear the Foskue name most likely have ancestors who immigrated to North America from Norway or Sweden in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Overall, the last name Foskue is an uncommon and interesting Scandinavian-originating name that is steeped in Viking mythology. It gives an insight into much of Europe's past, and is a reminder of the diverse cultural heritage of the Foskue family.
Order DNA origin analysisFoskue: Where does the name Foskue come from?
The last name Foskue is chiefly found in Norway today. It is a Norwegian variant of the Danish, Swedish, German, and Dutch name Fosgaard. The name is believed to be of either Danish, German, Dutch or Old Norse origin. According to researchers, the name Foskue is derived from a personal name, Foski, an Old Norse name meaning ‘bold wolf’. This would suggest a military background for those who bear it.
In Norway today, it is most especially found throughout the Østlandet, Vestlandet, Trøndelag, and Nordland regions. It is also found in some of Norway’s outer regions, but with less frequency. According to Norway’s National Registry, as of 2019 there were approximately 500 people in Norway with the last name Foskue.
People with the surname Foskue are most likely to be found clustered in Ålesund, Bergen, Trondheim, and Tromsø. Foskue is also a relatively common surname in the Faroe Islands, where it is spelt Foskvá. Here, the frequency of the surname is slightly higher than in Norway, with roughly 1,000 people possessing the surname.
Given Norway’s close historical ties with both Iceland and Denmark, one may also find the surname Foskue in the far-reaching Nordic diaspora. For instance, it may be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world where Norwegians have settled.
Variations of the surname Foskue
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Foskue can include Foskett, Foscue, Fosscue, Foskey, Fosque, Fosk, Forskue, Forsky, Forskey, Forsque, Foskew, Foski, Foske, Faskue, Fask, Fawesky, Forskye, Fouke, Fauskey, Fauskee, and Foscko.
Foskue is an American variation of the German surname, Forskuell, which is derived from the Middle German, Froschkeul, meaning ‘Frog’s Leg’. The modern form of the name, Foskue, is said to have originated in the 19th century, and it became popular in the Midwestern and Southern states of the US. The modern spellings for the surname include Foskyer, Foskee, Fosket, and Fosket.
Foskue is a rare surname, and its historical origin has been traced to the Middle High German, ‘froschkeul’, which literally translates to ‘frog’s leg’. Historically, the surname was used to refer to a hunter or a fisherman who collected amphibians for sustenance. The surname has spread to various parts of the world, and it is has been found in England, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States since the 19th century.
The variants of Foskue were more common in the 18th and 19th centuries, and most of them were used as surnames in England. The variants of the surname included Foskett, Fosque, Foski, Foske, Faskue, Fask, Fawesky, Forskye, Fouke, Fauskey, Fauskee, and Foscko. In some cases, the spelling of Forskye was also changed to Forskue by some families.
The current variants of the surname Foskue are rare, and it is mostly found in the United States. Apart from that, the surnames Fosket, Foskey, and Fosque have been fairly popular in certain parts of the world. Despite its rarity, people of this surname have made significant contributions to the world in various arenas, such as art, literature, and science.
Famous people with the name Foskue
- Thomas Foskue: Canadian Professional ice hockey player
- Charlie Foskue: English professional footballer
- Andy Foskue: Canadian musician and songwriter
- Raivis Foskue: Latvian professional football player
- Martin Foskue: American soccer player
- Everard Foskue: Canadian professional baseball player
- Mary Foskue: American sculptor and medalist
- Louis Foskue: Retired American football player
- Chris Foskue: Professional basketball player
- Gabriel Foskue: American engineer and entrepreneur