Surname Frerking - Meaning and Origin
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Frerking: What does the surname Frerking mean?
The surname Frerking is derived from the Germanic tribe of the Frisians, who were a combination of Germanic and Dutch descent. The name Frerking means “from Frisia” or “Frisian” in German. It became linked to the Germanic tribe of the Frisians during the migration period of the 5th to 10th centuries. This tribe inhabited lands near the North Sea including present-day Netherlands, Lower Saxony, and parts of modern-day Germany.
The surname Frerking is relatively distinctive in that it is found only in Northern European countries. There are small numbers in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, but the highest concentration is in the German-speaking countries. The earliest known use of the name was in 1245 in the town of Arnsberg, Germany. There are no records of the surname before 1200 but it is believed to have originated in the 8th century.
The Frerking family name has a great history of hard work and dedication to a hand's trade. Many Frerkings were skilled craftsmen and artisans, specifically in woodworking and metalworking. As craftsmen, they were able to carve out a good living in the expressed trades that their talents allowed.
The name Frerking is an ancient and noble one, with deep-seated roots from the Germanic Frisians. It has a long and proud history as a family name associated with hard work and dedication, with members of the family continuing to bear the name well into modern times.
Order DNA origin analysisFrerking: Where does the name Frerking come from?
The last name Frerking is a German surname, which derives from the Middle High German words ‘freir’ and ‘king’, both of which have the same meaning of ‘freed man’ or ‘free one’. The surname Frerking is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, especially Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. In Germany, the name is most common in states like Hesse, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia. In Switzerland, the largest population of Frerkings lives in the Canton of Bern.
Outside of German-speaking countries, Frerkings can also be found in England, Brazil, and the United States. In the United States, the surname is most common in the Midwest states like Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, where many German immigrants settled in the 19th and 20th century. Frerkings can also be found in Louisiana and New York.
Overall, the surname is not very common as only 0.001% of the global population has this name. However, more than 100,000 people with the name Frerking live in Europe alone.
Variations of the surname Frerking
The surname Frerking is a German patronymic surname derived from the given name Frederic. The surname was formed in the Middle Ages when children took on the last name of their father sometime prefixed with an ‘S’ for son of. As such, Frerking is a diminutive of the surname Frederic.
Variations of the surname Frerking include Fredrick, Friedrich, and Frederich, as well as Freterking, Freirking, Freyerking, Freyherking, Frerichs, and Freimann.
Less common spellings include Fredricks, Friedrichs, and Fredericks, as well as Freyarck, Friarck, Freerck, and Freeck.
Surnames derived from the same origin include Frerich, Frercks, Frericks, Fritscher, Froderking, Frawerking, Freymark, and Fredrich.
Due to migration, the surname Frerking can also be seen in different spellings in other languages around the world, such as the Spanish version Fredrico, the Portuguese Freirico, and the Italian Federico. Variations such as Fredeers and Fritsher are also seen in other parts of Europe.
Famous people with the name Frerking
- Brad Frerking, a professional baseball player from the United States
- Connie Frerking-Cohrs, a former Olympic athlete from Germany
- Ken Frerking, a former professional basketball player from the United States
- Olga Frerking, a professional tennis player from Germany
- Pat Frerking, a former professional football player from the United States
- Scott Frerking, a former professional hurdler from the United States
- Werner Frerking, a former professional wrestler and Olympic champion from Germany
- Zach Frerking, a professional baseball player from the United States
- Robert Frerking, a former classical musician from the United States
- Dinah Frerking, a professional basketball player from the United States