furst

Furst, often written Fürst in German, is a term with multiple uses in German-speaking contexts. As a noun, Fürst means a prince or sovereign ruler of a principality. In medieval and early modern Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, a Fürst was a member of the high nobility who ruled a Fürstentum (principality). The rank and privileges of a Fürst varied by territory, and the title could be hereditary within noble houses or conferred by a ruling prince. The word is etymologically linked to the concept of ruling authority and governance.

In modern usage, Fürst survives primarily as a surname and as a transliteration choice in non-German texts. The spelling Furst (or Fuerst) appears in many German-speaking families and in families of Jewish origin that emigrated, especially in the United States and other parts of Europe. As a surname, it does not indicate a current noble status but reflects historical naming practices or ancestral connections.

Variants and related terms include Fuerst, Fürsten (plural) and Fürstentum (principality). The term appears in historical documents, genealogies, and encyclopedic references when discussing German principalities, noble lineages, or rulers known as Fürsten. In English-language contexts, Furst is commonly understood as a transliteration of Fürst.