Surname de Fries - Meaning and Origin
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de Fries: What does the surname de Fries mean?
The last name de Fries is of Dutch origin. It is thought to have originally derived from the old Dutch "Friesland" -- a region in the north of the Netherlands. It was likely to first have been a nickname given to someone from this region and then became a surname. The name is also thought to possibly have originated from the Old German "frits"(peace), which was changed to the Latin version, "frisium" and then adopted in the Netherlands as "Friesland".
The modern spelling, de Fries, is derived from the Dutch prefix “de” which means “of” in English. This suffix is generally used to indicate origin from a place or region. This means that the name de Fries is likely to have been given to anyone who either lived or originated in Friesland.
The name de Fries is still commonly found in the Netherlands, particularly in the areas closer to Friesland, as well as in countries established by Dutch settlers such as Canada and the United States. The name is also quite popular in Suriname, as many people of Dutch descent have moved there in recent times. Further afield, it is becoming an increasingly common name in countries such Spanish-speaking South American nations, as well as in the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisde Fries: Where does the name de Fries come from?
The last name de Fries is most common today in the Netherlands. It is of Dutch origin and is derived from the word "Fries," which means "Frisian" and refers to a region of the Netherlands on the North Sea known for its distinctive language and culture. The name is also quite common in parts of Germany and Belgium. Over 1500 people in the Netherlands have the surname de Fries, and there are also around 1300 people in Germany and over 1500 people in Belgium with this name.
Outside of Europe, the name de Fries is granted to people of Dutch and Flemish origin who moved to America, Australia, and South Africa. In the United States, this surname is most commonly found on the east coast, while in Australia, it appears to be most prevalent in the state of Victoria.
In present times, the name de Fries is mainly spread throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and parts of the US and Australia, indicating its mainly European roots. Today, it is still a popular surname and continues to be seen in Dutch culture where it originated.
Variations of the surname de Fries
The surname de Fries or de Frise is derived from the geographic area of Frisia, which was a part of the Dutch-German-Frisian region. It is derived from an old Celtic tribe called the Frisi, who settled in the Frisian coastal regions. The spelling variations of de Fries include: van de Fries, van de Frise, de Frise, Fris, Friess, Frieze, Friese, Fryse, Friesland, Fryslan, van Friesen, van Friese, van Friesum, van Friesland, van Fryslan, Friesmann, Friske, Fritsche, Fritze, and Fritzig.
De Fries is a fairly common surname, especially in parts of Scandinavia, Germany, and the Netherlands. It was also used in Britain in the past during the time of the Dutch influence. The connections between the Dutch Frise and British Fryse are believed to be due to the migrations of Frisians, both as merchants and as laborers, to the British Isles.
Surnames similar to de Fries or de Frise include: van Fris, Frise, Friesz, Friz, Friez, Fryz, and Fritsch. These surnames could indicate roots in either German or Dutch. While the surname de Fries is spelled the same, the origin and meaning can be slightly different depending on the spelling. Frise, Friz, and Friesz indicate German dialects, while the spelling Fryz shows a Dutch origin.
Famous people with the name de Fries
- Jesper de Fries: Dutch soccer player
- Kees de Fries: Dutch abstract painter
- Henderik de Fries: Dutch Olympic rower who competed in the 1928 edition of the Games
- Willem-Alexander de Fries: Dutch seafarer and explorer, the first Dutchman to circumnavigate the globe in 1642
- Theun de Fries: Dutch civil engineer and navigator who worked on improving the sea defenses of the provinces of Groningen and Friesland, and the important Noordvlet and Whoorelt coastline
- Koen de Fries: Dutch author and historian, best known for his works on the history of the Dutch Golden Age
- Jan de Fries: Dutch banker who, together with his brother Willem, founded the successful Jan de Fries banking firm in 1720
- Jan Paul de Fries: Dutch theatre director and actor
- Karel de Fries: Dutch jazz musician
- Harry de Fries: Dutch concert violinist