Surname Defress - Meaning and Origin
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Defress: What does the surname Defress mean?
The last name Defress is derived from the Latin word defensio, which means "defense". As such, this name is likely to have been originally borne by someone associated with defensive warfare, either as a soldier, a warrior, or even a defender of one's property or territory. It is also possible that this name was adopted as a occupational name, perhaps for a keeper or guard of a fortress.
The Defress surname is thought to have originated in Northern France in the middle ages. During this time, the name would have spread with French immigrants bringing it to other parts of Europe, as well as to various parts of the Americas as a result of European colonization.
Today, the Defress surname is most commonly found in the United States, especially in regions which were originally settled by French immigrants. It is also found in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. In the United States, there are an estimated 9,000 people with this surname.
Overall, the last name Defress indicates a heritage rooted in defense and protection. It has connections with French ancestry and may have been adopted as either an occupational or hereditary surname, either of which would likely point to the originator's place in a military or defensive capacity.
Order DNA origin analysisDefress: Where does the name Defress come from?
The surname Defress is most commonly found in France. It is estimated that the origin of the name dates back to before the year 1000. The name is believed to be of French origin, and has been associated with various regions of the country throughout history. In the early 15th century, the name Defress was found in the Loire Valley in France. During the 19th century, the Defress family spread southward along the Mediterranean coast of France, settling in the Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur and Corsica regions. Today, the surname Defress is still used widely throughout France.
Among French-speaking immigrant communities around the world, the Defress surname is also commonly seen in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Guadeloupe. Outside of France, the Defress surname is also found in various European countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as in parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, the surname has been documented in certain regions of India, China, Japan and Indonesia.
Though the Defress family’s roots remain largely concentrated in France, the surname is also present in various other countries, regions and communities around the world.
Variations of the surname Defress
The surname Defress has different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. They include the following:
De Fress: This variant is found mostly in France.
Defreis: This spelling is mainly used in the Netherlands
De Fries: This variant is found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
DeFrise: This spelling is mainly found in the United States
DeFrees: This variant is primarily found in the United States
De Friese: This spelling is used mainly in Europe
DeFreesse: This variant is used mainly in the United States
Defresse: This spelling is found in France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg
Defris: This variant is mainly found in the Netherlands
Defrise: This spelling is found in the United States
DeFresse: This variant is found mainly in France
De Frazio: This spelling is primarily found in the United States
DeFrasch: This variant is mainly used in the United States
DeFres: This spelling is used mainly in France
De Franse: This variant is found mostly in Europe
Defrich: This spelling is mainly found in Germany
Diefresen: This variant is primarily used in Germany
De Freese: This spelling is mainly found in the Netherlands
DeFrey: This variant is mainly used in the United States
All of these variants are related in a way and are thought to originate from the same source. The surname Defress is typically used in Europe, the United States, and other countries as well. It is not an extremely common name, but is found scattered across different regions and nations.
Famous people with the name Defress
- Jacob DeFrees: an American freestyle swimmer, who won the bronze medal in the men’s 800-meter freestyle relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Allen DeFrees: an American photographer, visual artist, and educator, known for his innovative landscape photography and images of the Southwest.
- Emily DeFrees: an American painter, one of the first successful modernist female painters in the US.
- Elizabeth DeFrees: a renowned American poet, a member of the Academy of American Poets.
- Julia DeFrees: an American folk artist, known for her pieces of folk art that she created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- John DeFrees: an American politician and lawyer, a US Representative from Ohio.
- Isaac DeFrees: an American Quaker, who served as a clerk in the Indian department of the British East India Company.
- Karl DeFrees: an American scuba diver who invented the underwater spear gun.
- Mary Lorraine DeFrees: an American restorer of aging buildings in the US.
- Nancy DeFrees: an American writer and journalist, known for her humorous stories and poetry.