Surname Friedman - Meaning and Origin

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Embarking on a journey of self-discovery with the iGENEA DNA test, I learned about the rich history knotted in the strands of my DNA, and was able to connect with a wide diaspora of individuals sharing my surname, Friedman.

Z. Friedman

Friedman: What does the surname Friedman mean?

The surname Friedman is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and is derived from the Yiddish term "frid" meaning "peace" and the German suffix "man" meaning "man." So, the surname can be interpreted to mean "man of peace." It was typically given as a last name to a person who was peaceful and calm by nature. Notably, the name may have changed over time due to translation and transliteration between various languages. It's a common Jewish surname and can be found globally among Jewish diaspora communities. Despite the universal presence of this surname, not all the Friedman families are related. However, they would share the common values symbolized by their surname – the ideals of peace.

Friedman: Where does the name Friedman come from?

The surname Friedman has Jewish-German origins, derived from the German word "Friede" meaning peace, and "Mann" meaning man - thus it translates to "man of peace." It came into use among Ashkenazi Jews in the 18th and 19th centuries when governments demanded that Jewish families adopt fixed surnames for easier identification and taxation. Not all individuals with the Friedman surname are of Jewish descent, since non-Jews in German-speaking countries may also bear this surname. Today, Friedman is quite common in countries like the United States, Israel, and parts of Europe, among people of Jewish ancestry. It is also found among the Jewish diaspora around the world. Given the widespread emigration of Jews from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, it isn't surprising to find this surname outside of Europe. The spelling variations may include Friedmann, Freedman, and similar adaptations depending on regional linguistic influences.

Variations of the surname Friedman

The surname Friedman has various alternative spellings and variants that have evolved over time, owing to factors like regional accents, mispronunciation, illiteracy, and so on. These different spellings of Friedman include Friedman, Freedman, Fridman, Fredman, Friedmann, and Friedeman.

Notably, the addition of an extra "n" or "e" at the end of the name—a common occurrence in Europe—doesn't change the name's Yiddish-German origin, meaning "peace man" or "free man." Besides, names like Freid, Freyd, and Fread come from Friedman truncation and can be considered as variants.

Friedman can also be spelled in non-Latin scripts, e.g., as Фридман in Russian and Cyrillic alphabet languages, or פֿרײַדמאַן in Yiddish. Variations of Friedman also include names with similar meanings in other languages: for instance, the English equivalent would be Freeman, while the French equivalent might be Liberman (homme libre), and the Swedish, Frieman.

Finally, some related surnames are formed by translating "Friedman" or modifying it based on local languages or traditions. For instance, Fredmanski, Fredmander, and Fredmanovich are versions of Friedman in Slavic languages, which often add suffixes denoting patrilineal descent. However, it's crucial to note that all variations could have potentially developed independently, not necessarily from Friedman.

Famous people with the name Friedman

• Milton Friedman: An influential American economist and recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
• Kinky Friedman: An American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician, and former columnist for Texas Monthly.
• Cokie Roberts (born Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs): An American journalist and bestselling author, known formally as Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts. She used "Friedman" as a pen name in honor of her husband, Steven V. Roberts.
• Thomas Friedman: An American political commentator and author. He is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner who is a weekly columnist for The New York Times.
• Bruce Friedman: An American playwright and novelist, often associated with the "Black Humor" movement of the 1960s.
• Marty Friedman: An American guitarist, known for his tenure as the lead guitarist for heavy metal band Megadeth.
• David Friedman: An American economist, physicist, legal scholar, and libertarian theorist. He is the son of economists Rose and Milton Friedman.
• Michael Jan Friedman: An American author of nearly sixty books, including many Star Trek novels.
• Sarah Michelle Friedman Pfeffer (more commonly known as Piper Perabo): An American actress, known for her role in Covert Affairs.
• Ken Friedman: An American restaurateur and music executive.
• Brad Friedman: An American blogger, known for his website The BRAD BLOG.

Other surnames

Friedmann