Surname Felts - Meaning and Origin
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An Emotional Heritage Journey with iGENEA: Understanding Surname Felts
iGENEA offered a unique and emotional DNA testing journey that unveiled unique insights into my family history and roots. The experience led to a transformed understanding and newfound pride in my family name, 'Felts'.
P. Felts
read moreFelts: What does the surname Felts mean?
The surname Felts is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English pre 7th Century word "feld," meaning "field." It was likely first given as a topographic name for someone who lived or worked on an open patch of land in the countryside. Over time, it evolved from Feld to Felts. These types of surnames were among the earliest created, as physical features in the landscape provided easily recognizable distinguishing names in small communities. In some cases, the name might also be occupational for a keeper of the 'felds' or 'felts,' a term that referred to uncultivated land used for pasture. Today, the surname is found in various forms, including Felt, Felts, and Foulds.
Order DNA origin analysisFelts: Where does the name Felts come from?
The last name Felts is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the 2020 United States Census, the most populous states with the surname Felts are Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Because the surname Felts originates from England, many of the states where the name is concentrated in the United States were part of the original thirteen colonies.
Texas has the highest population of Felts, with more than 13,000 residents by the name. In Arkansas, there are more than 8,200 people with this surname. Missouri has more than 8,000, and in Kentucky and Tennessee, there are more than 5,000 each. Finally, the state of Virginia has almost 4,000 people with this name.
Much like its English counterpart, the Felts surname is generally believed to come from one of two places. The first is from a Middle English word “felt”, which was a framework that could be used to cover walls as protection from cold and damp. It could also have derived from the word “felds”, meaning “field”. This indicates that the original Felts’ were part of the English gentry that held land and title.
Today, the once popular first name can still be found in states across the United States although the population is not as concentrated as it was 60 years ago. The most populous state for the name remains Texas, where many people with the surname can still be found.
Variations of the surname Felts
The surname Felts is derived from the Old English term "ffelt", which means a felt maker. Over the centuries, the surname has evolved and developed into a number of variants and spellings. These include Feltes, Feltz, Feltser, Feltys, and Feltner.
The surname Felts is also seen under a variety of spellings from other countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and France, including Feltsman, Felte, Feltes, and Felteau.
In the United States, the Feltz, Felts and Feltys surnames appear to be the most common, while the Felteau and Feltsman surnames are fewer in number.
It is believed that the Feltz surname may be of Germanic origin. The translation of "feltz" means "felt" or "felt maker" in German.
The Felte and Feltys surnames may also be of Dutch or German origin. The Felte surname is derived from the German word "feilte" which means to "wobble." The name "Feltys" may be derived from the Old Germanic "feltis" which means "felt maker."
The Feltser surname may be a rarer version of the Feltz surname, and may be of Germanic origins. It is believed that the name could have derived from the Germanic term "feltz" which means "felt maker" or "felt worker".
Finally, the Felteau surname is possibly of French origin, and is derived from the French word "felteau" which means "felt maker" or "hat maker".
Famous people with the name Felts
- Blake Felts: Blake Felts is an American country music singer originally from Mississippi.
- Mary Kate Felts: Mary Kate Felts is an American Christian contemporary and pop singer.
- William E. Felts Jr.: William Felts Jr. is a former American football player who played for Texas High School.
- Lance Felts: Lance Felts is a former hockey player from Virginia who was drafted into the NHL in 1996.
- Jimmy Felts: Jimmy Felts is an American bluegrass musician from Tennessee.
- James Felts: James Felts is a comedian and actor who has appeared on television and in a few films.
- Roger Felts: Roger Felts is an American jazz musician, composer, and producer from Washington.
- Josh Felts: Josh Felts is an American former professional soccer player who played in the MLS for the Colorado Rapids.
- Thomas Felts: Thomas Felts is an American film and TV writer, director, and producer, as well as a music producer.
- Whit Felts: Whit Felts is an American contemporary Christian musician and songwriter from Texas.