Fiedler

Fiedler is a German word for "fiddler" (someone who plays the fiddle), and is an occupational German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname. As an occupational surname, Fiedler originated in the Middle Ages as a name for a musical performer, specifically a fiddle player. The name is derived from Middle High German videlære via videl meaning “fiddle.”

Notable Bearers

The surname Fiedler has been borne by many notable individuals across various fields. In music, Arthur Fiedler (1894–1979) was a renowned American conductor best known for his long tenure with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Among scientists, Fred Fiedler (1922–2017) was an Austrian-American psychologist who developed the Fiedler contingency model, a influential theory of leadership. In literature, Arkady Fiedler (1894–1985) was a Polish writer and traveller known for his books on nature and exotic lands. Other notables include:

• Christian Fiedler (born 1975), German football
  goalkeeper
• Max Fiedler (1859–1939), German
  conductor
• Wolfgang Fiedler (born 1952), German ornithologist
  and author

Related Names

The English equivalent of Fiedler is Fiddler. The surname is most heavily concentrated in Germany, followed by the United States, where it retains strong ties to German heritage. Variants in other languages include Fiedler (Czech) and Fidler (Swiss German).

• Meaning: Fiddler, a player of the fiddle
• Origin: German occupational surname
• Type: Occupational
• Related to: English Fiddler
• Primary regions: Germany, United States, Poland (via German settlement)