Surname Didrich - Meaning and Origin
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Didrich: What does the surname Didrich mean?
The last name Didrich is of German origin and is believed to have been derived from a personal name. The earliest known record of the surname appears to date back to approximately 1725 in Germany.
The name likely has a North Germanic root, meaning "powerful ruler". This is consistent with the alternate spelling of the surname, Dietrich, that is also of Germanic origin.
The Didrich name could also be Scottish in origin as some of the earliest records in Scotland appear to have been in reference to a family with this surname. In this case, the name may have come from an anglicised form of the Gaelic "MacRuari" which literally means "son of Ruari".
Although the exact meaning of the Didrich name is not known for certain, both of these roots point to a name with noble origins and strong connections to powerful rulers.
The name Miller is also the German word for a miller and could be another possible derivative of the surname. The Miller spelling is particularly common in Scotland and may have also been derived from the Scottish equivalent of the German Dietmiller.
As the meaning of the Didrich name is not known for certain, it's possible that the surname has more than one origin. No matter its origin, the name is certainly a strong name with royal or noble connections.
Order DNA origin analysisDidrich: Where does the name Didrich come from?
The surname Didrich is most common in Germany today, with the vast majority of those who bear the name originating in the country's northern regions such as Lower Saxony and Lower Franconia. Outside of Germany, the surname is relatively uncommon though descendants of German immigrants can be found in regions throughout Europe, North America, and South America.
The first recorded instance of the surname in Germany dates back to the 14th century and it is believed to be derived from the Middle Low German personal name Dietrich. The name itself could refer either to the legendary hero Dietrich von Bern, a figure from Germanic heroic legend, or to a variety of other medieval given names including Diederick or Dieterich.
Due to its Germanic roots, the surname is not prevalent in any other country, though there have been some reports of its spread to other regions, particularly in North America.
The earliest known American bearing the name did not arrive in the United States until the mid-19th century and it is believed that those who did carry the name in the US were descendants of intermarried German immigrants. Many of these immigrants traveled to the US to escape religious persecution or economic hardships in their home country and brought the name with them as they settled throughout the American Mid-West.
Variations of the surname Didrich
The surname Didrich has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. One variant is Dietrich, which is the German spelling of the surname. Dietrich is also a popular surname in other countries, including Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. Other similar spellings include Detrich, Diedrich, Detrie, and Dieredrich.
The surname Didrich is also sometimes Anglicized as 'Ditched' or 'Ditch.' Didrich is also occasionally spelled 'Ditrich,' which is a version more commonly found in Poland and Lithuania.
Didrich is derived from the German personal name Theodoric and is a patronymic name meaning ‘son of Theodoric.’ In addition, Didrich can also be derived from its Scandinavian equivalent, the given name 'Diderik.' Many of the similarly spelled surnames mentioned, including Dietrich, derive from the same sources.
The surname Didrich can also be linked to a number of other surnames, such as Dietz, Druecke, or Dittrich. These surnames all come from different parts of Germany and the surrounding countries, and may even have different roots from the Didrich surname.
In summary, the surname Didrich has a variety of spellings, variants and other surnames of similar origin. These include Dietrich, Detrich, Diedrich, Detrie, Dieredrich, Ditched, Ditrich, Dietz, Druecke, and Dittrich. All of these derive from the given name, Theodoric, or its Scandinavian equivalent, Diderik.
Famous people with the name Didrich
- Hendrik Didrich from Estonia was an Estonian minister and a member of the Parliament of Estonia from 1999-2003.
- Katrina Didrich is an Estonian figure skater who has competed in several international competitions.
- Harry Didrich is an Estonian basketball player who most recently plays for TTU KK during the 2019-2020 season.
- Marko Didrich is an Estonian volleyball player, currently playing for LKSK.
- Rebecca Didrich is an Estonian actress, best known for her roles in the 2018 drama film Tulio and the 2019 rom-com Take it or Leave it.
- Willy Didrich is an Estonian film editor who has worked on award-winning films such as Disperat and Katrina.
- Kelly Didrich is an Estonian illustrator and animator.
- Mai Didrich is an Estonian singer and songwriter who recently released the single "Make it Right".
- Adam Didrich of Estonia was a professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship in the early 2000s.
- Martin Didrich was an Estonian entomologist, best known for his work on insects in the family Chrysomelidae.