Surname Fullender - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Fullender: What does the surname Fullender mean?
The surname Fullender is an occupational surname which is derived from the Olde English word 'fulmæcere' or 'fulwiht.' This term roughly translates to mean a 'fuller' or a 'cloth fuller.' In the Middle Ages, it was the job of the fullers to 'full' or 'scour' woolen cloth to give it strength and to make it felted.
Fullers would normally use an alkali mixture such as stale urine or a lye solution to cleanse the cloth and then beat it vigorously with wooden fuller's clubs or combs in order to open up the fibers so that the cloth would felt and shrink. This would give it strength and compactness, as well as shrinking it to the required size. The workers were usually known as 'Fullers' or 'Fullenders', a name which then became associated with the occupation.
The surname Fullender is thought to have originated in England, although it could also be of Scandinavian origin. Today, the surname is found in various countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Australia. It is thought to have originated as a reference to the workers who were involved in fulling cloth in the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisFullender: Where does the name Fullender come from?
The last name Fullender is most common today in the United States, but it can also be found in some other countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. According to recent US census data, it ranks 8,686th in terms of frequency among all surname variations in the US.
The name Fullender was likely first found in England. It is an Anglo-Saxon name, derived from the Old English word "fulluendan," which can be translated as "fulfill or complete." It could also be related to the Middle English "fullen ore fulle," which meant "goo and come."
It could be possible that Fullender was derived from some sort of nickname, as it could mean someone who was generous in giving or someone who was always finishing what they started. Some immigrants may have adopted the surname upon arriving in the United States during the 19th century.
The Fullenders in the United States are widely dispersed, although sometimes clusters of them can be found in some cities. According to MyHeritage genealogy site data, the highest proportion of Fullenders in the United States can be found in Texas, where the name ranks as the 4,786th most common surname. Indiana also has a higher than average concentration of Fullenders, ranking the last name as the 5,691st most common surname. Other cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City also have a relatively high concentration of Fullenders.
Variations of the surname Fullender
The surname Fullender has variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that include: Follender, Fullender, Fuhlender, Füllender, Fueller, Fueller, Fuallender and Fueller.
Follender, and Fullender are likely derived from the Middle High German words “follen/foln,” meaning “to fill.” In this context the surname Follender/Fullender suggests a lineage from someone who was involved with ‘filling’ or something related to filling such as brewing beer, tithing, or taxation.
The similarities between Fuhlender, Füllender, and Fueller suggest they may have derived from the Low German word ‘fulen,’ which defined a person who works within a mill setting, specifically someone who grinds grain and fills sacks of flour.
Fuallender is derived from the Low German word ‘ful,’ which means ‘an enclosure,’ providing a greater suggestion that originated from an individual who manned, built, or lived near a fence or barrier.
In conclusion, all surnames of the same origin are derived from similar words which are related to filling, grinding, brewing, tithing, taxation, and encompassment of some sort. Each surname conveys an origin related to these specific definitions, and ancestral roots that fall within the categories of working with mills, fences, and tithing/taxation.
Famous people with the name Fullender
- Mark Fullender: TV News Anchor for Fox News and Fox Business
- Karl Fullender: Austrian composer and conductor
- John Fullender: British footballer and manager
- Bonnie Fullender: American stunt performer
- Mathias Fullender: Danish inventor and innovator
- Gail Fullender: Canadian glassblowing artist
- Bürgi Fullender: Dutch poet and writer
- Frank Fullender: Australian veterinary researcher
- Carol Fullender: American psychotherapist
- Bob Fullender: American educationalist and poet