Fankhauser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancient and distinguished surname Fankhauser is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German "funke," meaning "spark," and was most likely originally used to denote a blacksmith. Alternatively, it may have originally been bestowed as a nickname to indicate a very lively person.

Early Origins of the Fankhauser family

The surname Fankhauser was first found in Baden, as well as the Rhineland and Pomerania, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the areas. The young Fankhauser family declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending its influence in struggles for power and status within the region. It branched into many houses, and its contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power. The origins of the name make it likely that several branches of the Fankhauser family emerged independently in various areas of Germany. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was a knight called Funke, who was living in the town of Rüdesheim in 1280.

Early History of the Fankhauser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fankhauser research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1504, 1539, 1642, 1646, 1666, 1699, 1723, 1736, 1746, 1786 and 1836 are included under the topic Early Fankhauser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fankhauser Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Funck, Funcke, Funcken, Funk, Funke, Funken, Funkh, Funckenheim, Funckner, Funkhauser and many more.

Early Notables of the Fankhauser family

Notables with the surname Fankhauser during this period were

Johannes Fankhauser (1666-1746), a German military general

Fankhauser migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fankhauser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nicholas Fankhauser, who immigrated to New Jersey with his family in 1819
Gottfried Fankhauser, aged 19, who landed in America from LaHente, in 1899

Fankhauser Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Wilhelm Fankhauser, aged 42, who landed in America from Basel, Switzerland, in 1910
Frieda Fankhauser, aged 21, who immigrated to America from Solothurn, Switzerland, in 1911
Christian Fankhauser, aged 32, who landed in America from Chesiok, Switzerland, in 1913
Johann Fankhauser, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States from Chesiok, Switzerland, in 1913
Max Fankhauser, aged 3, who landed in America from Chesiok, Switzerland, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Fankhauser (post 1700) +

Gerhard Fankhauser (1901-1981), American embryologist, Princeton professor (1931 to 1969)
James Lee Fankhauser (b. 1939), American conductor, tenor, and educator
Merrell Wayne Fankhauser (b. 1943), American singer, songwriter and guitarist
Urs Fankhauser (1943-2018), Swiss rower at the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics
Rupert Fankhauser, Austrian clarinetist, lecturer at the University of Music and Pictoral Arts in Vienna