Feïd last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Feïd is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Feïd.

Meaning of Feïd

A German or German-Jewish occupational surname referring to one who played the fiddle or violin.

Feïd, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Feïd surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Feïd in America

Feïd is the 99725th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Feïd surname appeared 168 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Feïd.

The history of the last name Feïd

The surname Feid traces its origins to Germany, specifically within the regions of Bavaria and Rhineland during the Middle Ages around the 12th and 13th centuries. It is believed that the name derives from the Old High German word "veit," which means "pasture" or "meadow," indicative of a familial connection to land or agricultural work. Another possible origin of the surname is from the German word "Feidt," meaning "battle" or "fight," suggesting ancestry of warriors or soldiers.

Records first mentioning the surname Feid appear sporadically in local civic and ecclesiastical documents. One of the earliest mentions dates back to a 1245 manuscript from a Bavarian monastic record, which notes a "Johannes Feid" as a benefactor to the monastery. This association with religious institutions indicates that the Feid family could have been both influential and devout.

Further references appeared in the 14th century, particularly in the Rhineland where a "Herrmann Feid" was documented in a 1370 civic ledger in the city of Cologne. Herrmann was noted as a landowner and merchant, indicating the transition of the family into more urbanized commercial endeavors. The presence of the surname in Cologne aligns with the burgeoning trade routes in medieval Europe, highlighting the mobility and adaptability of the Feid family.

In the 15th century, an individual by the name of "Georg Feid" rose to prominence. Born in 1423 and dying in 1488, Georg served as a councilor in Nuremberg. His tenure was marked by significant contributions to the city's legal and administrative reforms. This period reflects the variety and advancement of occupations among those bearing the Feid name, from agriculture to governance.

During the 17th century, the Thirty Years’ War scattered many German families, including the Feids, across other European regions. "Jakob Feid," born in 1602, moved to the Alsace region, a territory that frequently shifted between French and German control. His descendants remained there, contributing to local commerce as traders and artisans, embedding the Feid surname more deeply into the cultural tapestry of Alsace.

By the 18th century, a notable figure emerged: "Anna Katharina Feid," born in 1751 in Mainz. Known for her work in midwifery, she became a pioneering figure in women’s healthcare and education, at a time when female medical professionals were rare. Her legacy has been partially documented in medical records and local histories, illustrating the enduring impact of the Feid heritage in various professional fields.

Thus, the surname Feid holds a rich history steeped in agricultural, mercantile, legal, and medical traditions, spanning multiple centuries and regions. Each instance of the name's appearance in historical documents underscores the diverse roles and contributions of the Feid family members to European society through the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Feïd

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Feïd.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Feïd was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.45% 157
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Feïd was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Feïd, please contact us.

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"Feïd last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/feid-surname-popularity/.

"Feïd last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/feid-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 May, 2025

Feïd last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/feid-surname-popularity/.

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