Surname Felting - Meaning and Origin

Felting: What does the surname Felting mean?

The last name Felting is an occupational last name, associated with around 1550 people in the United Kingdom, according to the British Surname Directory. It is thought to be derived from a name for an occupation or craft. The name likely originates from Old English and German roots, with “felt” being a type of fabric or material created by the process of interlocking wool fibres.

The art and science of making felt dates back centuries, to civilizations such as Sumerians, Egyptians, Romans and Chinese. Early felt-making could be used to make clothing, hats, bags, blankets, paddings and wall hangings. Felt is a versatile material, with a variety of uses in the modern world, ranging from medical and technical industries to fashion and art.

Today, people with the last name Felting may still be involved in the felt-making industry, or even possess ancestral memories of being involved in the craft from generations back. Those with this last name may also have an interest in history and culture, or even a love of textiles and crafts.

Because of its versatile qualities, felt has been used throughout many eras and cultures, across the whole world - giving the last name Felting an intriguing and interesting background.

Felting: Where does the name Felting come from?

The last name Felting is found across the world today. It is predominantly found in the United States, with the greatest concentration in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. It is also more widely spread in Germany, which is likely due to the large number of Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants who settled in these states in the mid-1800s.

The meaning of the name is uncertain, but it could have derived from the archaic German word for felt, or it could have originated from the German word “felten”, meaning to fence in. There is also a Swedish variant of the name, Feltinger, which is thought to be a Dutch immigrant adaptation.

In the United States, the Felting family history dates back to colonial times, with some of the earliest records tracing back to the mid-1700s in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. During the 19th Century, the family migrated across the US, including ventures to the Midwest and the Pacific North West.

More recently, the last name has spread further to Canada and Australia. These are likely descendants of 19th Century US immigrants, or those born in the US who have later relocated, either permanently or temporarily to live and work elsewhere.

Today, the Felting name remains prominent in many parts of the world, but Australia and the United States are the main countries where it is currently found in the greatest abundance.

Variations of the surname Felting

The surname Felting is relatively rare and is believed to be of German origin. A few variants of the surname Felting are Feltling, Feltlinge, Feltinger, Feltlinger and Feltzling.

Felting is derived from the Middle High German word ‘felle’ which means skin or fur. It is an occupational surname usually given to a furrier or someone who worked in the fur or leather trade. In the Middle Ages, furriers were highly skilled and the trade was centred around the production of clothing items made of fur or leather. These items could include hats, coats and boots.

The surname can be seen throughout Germany, particularly in Bavaria, Westphalia, Brandenburg and Saxony. It has also been found in Ireland, Poland and Austria.

A few alternative spellings of the surname Felting are Felixinger and Feuling.

The surnames Feulinger, Feuling, Feutling, Feutzling and Fülting are all believed to be derived from the same origin as Felting.

The surname Felting can also take various forms depending on the country - in France, it is spelt ‘Faulting’, in Scotland as ‘Faulding’ and in Ireland as ‘Follan’.

Famous people with the name Felting

• Marie Felting, known as the “matriarch” of Seattle’s piano manufacturing industry.
• Brad Felting, keyboardist of rock band Company of Thieves.
• Ellwood Felting, prominent American log cabin builder of the late 19th century.
• Frank Felting, American Civil War adjutant to General George Armstrong Custer.
• Sarah Felting, Austrian-born film producer and director.
• John Paul Felting, British baritone saxophonist.
• Arthur Felting, New Zealand blacksmith and industrialist.
• Maxine Felting, one of the first female news anchors in America.
• Charles Henri Felting, French Impressionist painter of the 19th century.
• Simon Felting, Austrian-born American sculptor.
• Christophe Felting, French film and TV director.
• Eileen Felting, acclaimed British violinist and teacher.
• Ida Felting, one of the earliest female entrepreneurs in automobile manufacturing.
• Donald Felting, noted American furniture designer.
• Thomas Felting, Canadian violin maker of the 19th century.
• Kurt Felting, German-born Finnish composer and poet.
• Norman Felting, British organist and composer.
• Wilhelm Felting, Swiss mechanical engineer and industrialist.
• Jean-Pierre Felting, French-born Hollywood cinematographer.
• Pieter Felting, Dutch landscape painter of the 17th century.

Other surnames

Feltin