f-names

in honour of surname day° at the ragbag, and as this week’s installment of f-words, i present some curious last names from the dictionary of german names by hans bahlow (1967):

• Fackler: torch maker.
• Farsbotter: ‘fresh butter’, hence: butter dealer.
• Fechter: one whose occupation it is to fight duels either for legal purposes or at fairs.
• Federer: feather dealer.
• Fickenscher: pickpocket.
• Filter: a felt hat maker.
• Findekeller: ‘find the cellar’, a derisive nickname for someone who loves to drink.
• Fleischfresser: ‘meat eater’, hence: a butcher.
• Frattensattel: ‘strain the saddle’, hence: a horse dealer.
• Fügenschuh: ‘to make the shoe fit’, hence: a shoemaker.
• Fuß: someone with striking or unusual feet.

a feather dealer? a felt hat maker? THESE are occupations that i can get behind.