Surname Fürstnow - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Fürstnow: What does the surname Fürstnow mean?
The last name Fürstnow is a German surname, with its roots stretching back to the middle ages. The name comes from two aspects: Fürst, meaning prince in German, and now, meaning a person who lives near a body of water. The combination of these two aspects has resulted in the surname Fürstnow, indicating a person that is associated with a prince near a body of water.
The earliest known appearance of the name appears around 1242, when one Wernherus von Furstenoua was recorded in the chronicles of the city of Tuebingen. The name is likely associated with the noble family of Thüringen, who controlled the area around the Volkersturm Moor lakes in the area around Heiligenstadt. Later records show members of the Fürstnow surname in Mecklenburg, Pomerania, Silesia, and other locations in Germany.
The Fürstnow surname is still present today in Germany and other parts of Central Europe. The name is likely still associated with a prince near a body of water, however it now carries its own unique meaning. It is a reminder of the history of Germany and its past inhabitants, and of the enduring legacy of this family name.
Order DNA origin analysisFürstnow: Where does the name Fürstnow come from?
The last name Fürstnow is most commonly found in the Northern European countries of Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Records of this surname date back to the Middle Ages, with its earliest known ancestral root coming from Old Prussian-influenced languages.
In Germany, Fürstnow is especially prevalent in the northern region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. During the 19th century, many Prussian-influenced names were popular in the area, and it's believed that the Fürstnow surname independently developed in the region and was possibly given to those who worked at a princely castle.
In Sweden, the Fürstnow surname is most commonly found in the historic town of Trosa in the northern province of Södermanland. During the1800s, the area saw a growing number of German immigrants, and with migration, the Fürstnow name spread.
In Norway, Fürstnow is typically concentrated in the southeastern coastal community of Kristiansand. This port city was home to many economic and cultural exchanges between Norway and Germany, leading to the influx of German immigrants.
Today, with the exception of Germany, Fürstnow is still relatively rare in the countries where it originated. However, it continues to thrive and be found throughout Northern Europe.
Variations of the surname Fürstnow
Fürstnow is a German surname originating from the Middle High German word Vurst, meaning "prince". Depending on dialect, its spelling and spelling variants can be seen as Fürstnow, Fuerstnow, Fürstnau, and Fuerstnau.
The earliest record of the surname in Germany appears as Fürstnow in a record of legal proceedings in 1765 found in the Köpnick region. It may be related to the surnames of Fürsten (meaning "prince"), Fuersten (a different spelling of Fürsten), Fürstenau (meaning "of/in the prince's meadow") and Fürstenow (possibly derived from the Old High German word vurstin meaning "princess").
In the United States, the Fürstnow surname has evolved to be more commonly found as Furstnow and Furstnau. The largest cluster of Fürstnow family records in the US appears in Franklin and Bedford counties of Pennsylvania, where the name is spelled as Furstnow.
The Furstnow spelling is also displayed in some records found in Illinois, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Fuerstnow is the most common spelling of the surname found in Canada, with Walt Fuerstnow being the most well-known of the name. Records have also been found in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan spelling the surname as Furstnau.
In England, the surname is now spelled Furstnow and is found mainly in Lancashire, West Midlands, and Yorkshire.
Given that the Fürstnow surname is a relatively rare surname, it may be much easier to find a person's family records by searching surnames derived from the German spelling such as Fürsten, Fürstenau, and Fürstenow.
Famous people with the name Fürstnow
- Eva Fürstnow, German actress
- Wendy Fürstnow, Canadian professional golfer
- Hans Fürstnow, Prussian general
- Elly Fürstnow-Sachs, German singer
- Fritz Fürstnow, German editor and publisher
- Wilhelm Fürstnow, German political activist
- Helen Fürstnow, German actress
- Fritz Fürstnow-Marzec, Austrian painter
- Sibylle Fürstnow, German journalist
- Harriet Fürstnow, German filmmaker