Surname Driehs - Meaning and Origin

Driehs: What does the surname Driehs mean?

The last name Driehs is a patronymic surname, derived from the first name of a male ancestor. The name Driehs is of German descent and is believed to have originated in the state of Germany. The name is thought to have originally been spelled Dreis, Drees, Dreiß, Dreijs, and possibly even Dreish.

The name is associated with the pre-Christian German word driso, meaning ‘honor’ or ‘repute’. Thus, the literal translation of Driehs means ‘of honorable rank’ or ‘clan of honor’. This likely refers to a family of noble or distinguished origin and status. Additionally, the root word driso may be related to the Latin words dura anddroximately, meaning ‘strong’ and ‘hard’. Therefore, the name Driehs may also be associated with strength and resiliency.

It is also possible that the meaning of the name Driehs may have changed over time and depending on different regional dialects. In the central-western region of Germany, the name was recorded as Drissel and Dreish, and was associated with having ‘strong belief’ or ‘determination’. In the upper-central region of Germany, the name was recorded as Dreihaus and Dreis, and in some cases was related to the profession of a letter-writer.

The last name Driehs is still common throughout much of Germany, and has also spread to other countries with emigration, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is difficult to determine an exact meaning for the name, as personal preference and regional dialect play an important role. However, the common translations of ‘of honorable rank’ or ‘clan of honor’ as well as ‘strong belief’ or ‘determination’ all suggest a name with a proud and noble past.

Driehs: Where does the name Driehs come from?

The last name Driehs is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is a very rare last name in other countries around the world. According to the US Census Bureau, in the 2020 census, there were only a few dozen individuals in the United States with the last name Driehs.

The surname Driehs is likely derived from a humanistic and Christian-Germanic context and can be traced back to northern Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark in the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "Drieges" meaning "dry", and was a nickname given to someone who looked like they were constantly thirsty.

In Germany, the Driehs family is most common in the state of Lower Saxony, where it originated. In Austria, the surname appears to have been adopted by the Austrians from German immigrants in the late 19th century.

In recent decades, the Driehs name can also be found within the United States. In particular, it appears in areas such as Texas, where there is a larger German immigrant population. It is possible that there may be other individuals in the United States with the Driehs last name, although this cannot be determined by census data.

Variations of the surname Driehs

The surname Driehs has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The first variant is Dreiß, which is a German spelling of the surname. The second variant is Dreis, which is an anglicized form of the original surname. The third variant is Dreyes, which is a Dutch spelling and the fourth variant is Dreusch, which is a small variant found mostly in Austria. The surname is also sometimes spelled as Dreisch, Dreisser, Dreyser, and Dreysch.

The surname Driehs has several surnames of the same origin. The first is Dreis, which is the anglicized version of the original surname. The second is Dreese, which is also originally derived from the German word ‘Dreis’. The third is Dreisig, which is a variation of the first two. The fourth is Dreissen, which is also derived from the German word ‘Dreis’. The fifth is Dreisser, which is a derivative of ‘Dreis’. The sixth is Dreißig, which is a variation of the first two. The seventh is Dreyser, which is a variation of the first three.

The last variant of the surname Driehs is Driesse, which is a Dutch variation of the original surname. This variant can be found in the Netherlands and Belgium. There are also some other regional variations of the surname, such as Driesen, Drieser, Driesenbeck, and Dreissen. All of these variants are derived from the original surname or from its various variants.

Famous people with the name Driehs

• Erwin Driehs: A naval officer of the Prussian and German Imperial Navies.
• Vincent Driehs: A German film actor and director.
• Olaf Driehs: A German classical cellist and professor.
• Karl Friedrich Driehs: A German theologian and professor.
• Manuela Driehs: An Austrian stage and film actress.
• Jörg Driehs: A German photographer and filmmaker.
• Monika Driehs: A German politician and biologist.
• Andreas Driehs: A German screenwriter, director, producer, and reviewer.
• Sabine Driehs: A German politician and lawyer.
• Helmut Driehs: An Austrian theatre director, singer, dancer, and actor.
• Adelheid Driehs: An Austrian politician and lawyer.
• Josef Driehs: An Austrian historian and professor.
• Frederic Driehs: A German composer and musician.
• Erhard Driehs: A German artist and sculptor.
• Eberhard Driehs: A German author and publisher.
• Monika Driehs-Boden: An Austrian comedian, actress, and radio personality.

Other surnames

Driehsen