Surname Friehs - Meaning and Origin

Friehs: What does the surname Friehs mean?

The surname Friehs is of German origin and is derived from the Germanic language. The name is an occupational name for a tax collector or a merchant, deriving from the Old High German word 'faro' meaning 'journey' or 'travel'. It is also possible that the name is a local name for someone who originally lived near a road, forest or clearing.

The ancient dynasty of the Freis, or Freys, is believed to have lived in the area of what is now Germany during the early 15th century. The family played an important role in the political and religious life of the area at the time and was closely associated with many of the dominant forces in the Rhineland. The family crest and coat of arms, which contain several stars and horizontal white, red and black bars, are believed to have been adopted during the 15th century as a sign of the family's significant wealth and power.

The spelling of the surname has changed over time, from Fries to Frys to the modern spelling Friehs. This change was likely to account for the development of regional dialects, with families likely adapting their names to match the local pronunciation.

Today, people bearing the surname Friehs can be found across the world, with notable concentrations in Germany, the United States and Canada. As many people moved to other countries over the centuries, the name has been further spread and adapted. As such, the name lives on as a unique reminder of a once-influential German noble family.

Friehs: Where does the name Friehs come from?

The last name Friehs is most commonly found today in parts of Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, the surname is most prevalent in the states of Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hessen. In Luxembourg, it is most commonly found in the far south of the country. In Austria, it is common in western and northern regions, while in Switzerland it is mainly found in the canton of Zurich.

The origins of the surname are not definitively known, but it is believed to be of Germanic origin. It is theorized to derive from the old German name Fridike or Friedrike, which have roots in the old German words fried, meaning “peace”, and rike, meaning “kingdom” or “realm”. Thus, the surname Friehs likely denoted a family of royal blood.

Furthermore, the name is also connected to other common surname variants, such as Frei, Frey, and Friess. These all share similar origins and have the same meaning—a family who was descended from royal ancestors.

Today, many people with the surname still live in regions of Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, although there are other countries where this surname is present, such as the United States, Australia, and Denmark.

Variations of the surname Friehs

The surname Friehs is mainly found in Germany and is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "vrih" which was used to refer to a kind of shrub or thicket.

Variants of the surname Friehs include Frees, Freese, Friese, Freyss, Freys, Frye, Fryes, Fryse, and Frysz. Several other regional surnames are derived from Fries or Freis, such as Freise, Friess, Freiss, Frieß, Fryss, Fritz, Freyes, and Freus.

Spelling variants for Friehs include Frays, Frayes, Frays, Frues, Fruys, Fryes, Fryzes, and Fruis. Some other variants include Fryen, Freiesen, Frieessen, and Freiseyen.

Surnames of the same origin include Freiburg, Frieberg, Frieberger, and Freiberger. Other similar surnames include Frey, Fritsch, and Fritzsch.

In summary, the surname Friehs has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Frees, Freese, Friese, Freyss, Freys, Frye, Fryes, Fryse, Frysz, Frays, Frues, Fruys, Fryen, Freiesen, Frieessen, Freiseyen, Freiburg, Frieberg, Frieberger, Freiberger, Frey, Fritsch, and Fritzsch.

Famous people with the name Friehs

• Mark Friehs: a physicist who is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a consultant for IBM.
• Eric Friehs: a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for six seasons.
• Alexander Friehs: a German contemporary artist and installation creator.
• Tracy Friehs: a US elder law attorney and certified Elder Law specialist.
• Megan Friehs: a German rapper, singer, and songwriter.
• Paula Friehs: a visual artist from Germany.
• Dominik Friehs: a German sports journalist and radio presenter.
• Christoph Friehs: a German First Officer for Lufthansa.
• Henrik Friehs: a Danish professional football player.
• Caroline Friehs: a German vocalist based in the United Kingdom.
• Julius Friehs: a German-born attorney in California.
• Lena Friehs: a German actress.
• Helge Friehs: a German football player.
• Thomas Friehs: a German lawyer and notary public.
• Matthias Friehs: a German portrait artist.

Other surnames

Friehling