Surname Frielinghausen - Meaning and Origin

Frielinghausen: What does the surname Frielinghausen mean?

The last name Frielinghausen (also spelled Freilinghausen or Frielingshausen) is a German surname of aristocratic roots. It is believed to have originated in northern Germany near what is now the city of Rahden in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The literal meaning of Frielinghausen is 'frieling house', likely referring to an old manor house which was owned by the Frielinghausen family. Alternatively, it is believed to derive from two distinct German words: 'frey' and 'hausen', which mean 'free' and 'house'. Together, the two words combine to mean "free house".

The Frielinghausen family is believed to have first established itself during the 13th century in Germany, coming from nobility in Prussia. From the 15th century, the family lived in the region of Cloppenburg in the kingdom of Hanover. During the 17th century, many family members emigrated to the United States.

The Frielinghausen family has an impressive lineage, with many notable family members, including judges, academics, and military officers. In the 19th century, several members of the family served as prominent political officials in Germany.

Today, the Frielinghausen family is a well-respected and beloved part of German history. Its members have spread to many different countries, helping to preserve their proud legacy and contribute to their new homes.

Frielinghausen: Where does the name Frielinghausen come from?

The surname Frielinghausen can be found predominantly throughout Germany today. It is most common in the Rhine-Ruhr region in North Rhine-Westphalia, specifically in the city of Dortmund and the district of Unna within the city of Hagen. Frielinghausen is also found in the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony, especially in the rural areas of Bavaria.

What's interesting about this name is its origin; it is derived from the Old German words ‘frieling’ meaning to protect and ‘hausen’ meaning home. Essentially, put together, it literally translates to “protected home”. This name originated with German settlers in the Rhineland area, sometime during the Medieval Ages, and first found written mention in 1530 AD.

Frielinghausen is a reasonably rare name nowadays, but it is still present in many German families, especially in the rural areas of Germany. Records of early Frielinghausen’s still exist in the areas mentioned above. Today, people bearing the name are likely to be found in various parts of Germany, especially in the west and south of the country.

Variations of the surname Frielinghausen

Frielinghausen is a German surname and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, some of which include Frelinghausen, Frielingshausen, Frielinghuis, Freilinghaus, Frielehausen, Friedelingshausen and Freilinghuysen.

Some of the variants of the surname Frielinghausen were also derived from the place name in Germany where many of the earliest ancestors of this surname resided. Frielinghausen is a small rural municipality located between Hagen and Warburg in the northeastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is believed to have been named after the Frielinghausen family that lived there in the 13th century.

The spelling Frelinghausen is believed to be derived from the Middle High German Frelinghusen, which was the dialect form of Frielingshausen. The Frielingshausen variant is derived from the old Germanic Freiliche Husen, meaning free house. This term was used to describe a house or residence that belonged to a free family or was unencumbered with feudal duties or service.

The variant Frielinghuis is derived from the Dutch spelling of the same name and is often found in Dutch records. Similarly, the Danish spelling of Frellinghausen is often found in Danish records. The variant Freilinghaus is derived from the Middle High German Freilinghusen, which is the dialect form of the same original name and is also found in records from Germany and Denmark.

The variant Frielehausen is derived from the old Germanic Freiliche Husen and is believed to have been used to describe an estate or house owned by a free family or was unencumbered with feudal duties or service. The variant Friedelingshausen is derived from the Middle High German Frielinghusen and is the most common variant found in early records from Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. The final variant, Freilinghuysen, is derived from the Middle High German Freilinghuysen and is also found in records from the same parts of Germany.

Famous people with the name Frielinghausen

• Lisa Frielinghausen: German actress
• Aguibou Frielinghausen: Nigerian immigant who won the National Olympic Committee's "Migrant of the Year" award
• Thad Frielinghausen: German soccer player
• Amalia Frielinghausen: German soprano singer
• Harald Frielinghausen: German jazz musician and record producer
• Joe Frielinghausen: German Marathon runner
• Lydia Frielinghausen: German Paralympic swimmer
• Monika Frielinghausen: German Olympic fencer
• Sally Frielinghausen: Austrian alpine skier
• Sven Frielinghausen: German songwriter and composer

Other surnames

Frielinghaus