Surname Ziegenfoos - Meaning and Origin
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Ziegenfoos: What does the surname Ziegenfoos mean?
The last name Ziegenfoos is of German origin. It is derived from the German word “ziege” meaning “goat” and “fuss” meaning “foot” or “steps.” The literal translation of Ziegenfoos is “goat's foot” or “with a goat's foot”.
The surname Ziegenfoos is derived from a topographic name for someone who lived near a place where goats used to forage. It was also used to describe someone who lived at the foot of a wooded area where goats would graze and play.
In the 19th century, the surname Ziegenfoos was prominent in Germany and the United States. It was found in Germany in the 13th century, and many German immigrants to America brought the name in the 19th century. In the United States, the name was most prevalent in Pennsylvania and New York. It is still a rare surname to this day, and can be found throughout the United States and Germany.
The variation of the surname Ziegenfoos is also found in other European countries as well. In Sweden, the spelling is “Tegenföss”, and in Norway it is “Tegenfos”. The spelling was also changed to “Siegenfus” upon immigration to the United States in the 19th century.
The Ziegenfoos surname is still around today, indicating that its bearer was likely of German descent. It is a reminder of a past era, when people moved to different places, taking their traditions and culture with them.
Order DNA origin analysisZiegenfoos: Where does the name Ziegenfoos come from?
The last name Ziegenfoos is of German origin. It is most commonly found today in the United States, mainly in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. There are also a few Ziegenfoos households scattered throughout Canada and in areas of Upper Germany such as Bavaria and Hesse.
In the United States, Ziegenfoos is a fairly uncommon surname and only pops up in about 0.003% of the population. As a result, the people who bear the surname are often related over many generations and are considered part of a large family.
Many of the Ziegenfoos joined German religious orders in the early 1800s, leading them to seek out new lives in the New World. Ziegenfoos households can commonly be found in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country, where members of the family have settled for centuries and are still fairly widespread.
Though not an extremely common surname, the Ziegenfoos family is an incredibly resilient one descended from the earliest pioneers of modernity. Members of the family have gone on to accomplish great things in their respective fields, making their small family an important part of American history.
Variations of the surname Ziegenfoos
The surname Ziegenfoos is derived from the German word “Ziegenfuss”, which translates to “goat’s foot” or “goat’s hoof”. The most common variation of this surname is Ziegenfuss, with the double “s” at the end. Other variants include Ziegenfus, Ziegenfuess and Ziegenfues. Spellings of the name may vary as well, such as Ziegenfoose, Ziegenfoosse, and Ziegenfuss.
This surname also has a variety of alternate surnames, stemming from different languages and dialects across Europe. In some cases, the “s” at the end of the name has been replaced with the letter “z”, to form names like Ziegenfuz, Ziegenfuzs and Ziegenfeuz. In other cases, the “f” in the middle has been replaced with “v” to give surnames like Ziegenvos, Ziegenvuss and Ziegenveus.
Finally, a number of surnames have been derived from Ziegenfoos through incorrect translations. For example, Ziegernfusz, Ziegernfus, and Ziegerfus may have been created from a misreading or misunderstanding of the German word. Similarly, Zeegenvos, Zeegenvosse, Zeggenfuess and Zeggenfiess may have come from a mistranslation of the word.
Famous people with the name Ziegenfoos
- Samuel Ziegenfoos: former major league team owner for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Steve Ziegenfus: American painter and sculptor.
- Wayne Ziegenfus: American competitive powerlifter and ex-powerlifting champion.
- William Ziegenfus: former professor of political science at Messiah College.
- Hershal Ziegenfus: Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
- Tim Ziegenfuss: retired professional rollerblader.
- James Ziegenfuss: retired Canadian professional hockey player.
- Kenneth Ziegenfuss: former mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- Evan Ziegenfus: professional racecar driver.
- David Ziegenfuss: American born bluegrass and old-time musician.