What does Fickbohm mean in English?

Answer 1

The name "Fickbohm" is from Germany. It is not from the first name Friedrich, as is sometimes supposed, but was originally the last name "Fichtenbaum", meaning literally: "spruce tree" in German. It was changed at Ellis Island by Immigration officials who shortened it to the hard "k" in "Fick" because it was easier for Americans to say. American English-- indeed all English has no sound for the German "ch" which is the sound you make when you have a popcorn hull stuck on the top, back side of your tongue and you're trying to get it off--or when you're trying to make a growling sound of a dog--better than that, I cannot explain in text. If you know a German speaker, ask him or her how "fichtenbaum" is pronounced. My great-great-great grandfather came from Germany and explained exactly what the name meant, but over the years "spruce tree" became "pine tree." I am glad to help correct that mistake.

Some say that all of the Fickbohms are related if you go back far enough because it was not a common German name, but a name of a certain true family. American Fickbohms are even more surely related by blood because of the singular incident of the Ellis Island spelling change.