Last Name Feininger

Feininger is a German surname, originally derived from the Middle High German "von fininger," meaning "of the finger" or "the pointer." It was often used as an occupational name for someone who was a scribe or copyist, as their role involved pointing with a pen. Over time, it has been spelled in various ways, including Feininger, Feninger, Fininger, and others, due to regional variations and changes in orthography.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Feininger

The meaning and origin of the last name Feininger

The surname Feininger is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German "Veingin" which means "fining" or "refining." It was originally an occupational name for someone who worked as a finer or refiner of fabrics or metals. The name may also have been a nickname for someone who was considered skillful and precise, much like a refiner or polisher. The Feininger family is known to have originated from the region around Bavaria in southern Germany. Famous bearers of this surname include the artist Lyonel Feininger, who was a member of the Expressionist group Die Brücke, and the mathematician John von Neumann, who made significant contributions to various fields of mathematics and computer science.

Geographical distribution of the last name Feininger

The surname Feininger is predominantly of German origin, with significant distributions within Germany and Austria. According to genealogical databases, it is most frequent in regions such as Bavaria, Hesse, and Thuringia in Germany, and Vienna and Lower Austria in Austria. Beyond Europe, the name has also been identified in the United States, particularly in states with a high German-American population like Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, and California. The Feininger family can be traced back to the town of Ziegenhain, Hesse, Germany, in the late Middle Ages. Its spelling variations include Feininger, Fayninger, and similar forms.

Variants and spellings of the last name Feininger

Feininger is a surname of German origin, primarily spelled as Feininger, Feyninger, and Feiniger in English-speaking countries. Variations in other languages include Feininger (German), Feinigier (Yiddish), and Feininguer (Dutch). It is derived from the Middle High German word "feine," meaning fine or delicate, and "-inger," a suffix denoting occupational origin, indicating someone who was a craftsman or merchant of fine goods. In some cases, it may also be a locative surname, referring to someone who lived near a town called Fein or Fayn in Germany.

Famous people with the last name Feininger

Notable individuals sharing the surname Feininger include:

1. Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956), an American artist of German descent who was a founding member of the group that became known as The Blue Rider, and later associated with the Bauhaus school. His work spanned painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture.

2. Hans Feininger (1876-1957), Lyonel's younger brother, was also a German-American artist, musician, and writer who is best known for his contributions to music theory and his works in the Expressionist style of painting.

3. Walter Gropius (1883–1969), born Ernst Wendell Ludwig Feininger, was a German architect, urban planner, and designer. He co-founded the Bauhaus school, influencing modern architecture and design worldwide. Despite his original name, he chose not to use the surname Feininger professionally.

Genealogical research on the last name Feininger

The Feininger surname originates from Germany and is believed to have roots in several regions, including Thuringia and Saxony. One notable individual with this surname is the artist Lyonel Feininger, who was born in New York City in 1871 to German-Jewish parents but spent much of his childhood in Germany. His family hailed from the town of Eutin in Holstein, a region that was part of the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp until its absorption into Prussia in the late 19th century. Another well-known Feininger is Richard Feynman, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, who was born in 1918 in New York City to Jewish parents of Russian and Lithuanian descent. However, it's important to note that the Feininger lineage can be traced back to various regions within Germany, reflecting a diverse historical background.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "feininger"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 25 July 2025

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