Surname Dettrich - Meaning and Origin

Dettrich: What does the surname Dettrich mean?

The last name Dettrich is of German origin and is derived from the common German first name Dietrich. The name Dietrich was popular during the Medieval period and was formed from two elements: the first element, “diu”, means “people”, while the second element, “ric”, means “king” or “leader”. Thus, the literal translation of Dietrich is “leader of the people”.

The surname Dettrich is borne by multiple families in Germany and is also found in other countries. It is a cognate of other family names such as Dettweiler, Dietrich, Detrich, Detrick and Dettinger. The name may also be found in various spellings such as Detterich, Dettlaff, and Detters.

The name has often been linked to profound European nobility and several families with this surname have held positions of power. However, those with the name Dettrich are likely descended from a peasant class family and are most closely associated with farming. During the 15th century, many Germans emigrated to the Ukraine and the surname Dettrich gave origin to two distinct branches; one in the Ukraine and one in Austria.

Today, the name Dettrich is still found predominantly in Germany and Austria. Many with the surname are still connected with farming and horticultural activities. In addition, it has been suggested that the name earned its connection to nobility due to stories of heroic deeds during peasant revolts or wars which inspired others to pay respect and admiration to those of the Dettrich family.

Dettrich: Where does the name Dettrich come from?

The last name Dettrich is most commonly found in Germany (Deutschland) today. It is of Germanic and Anglo Saxon origin, derived from the word "dieterich" which means "ruler of the people". According to family name distribution data, Dettrich is most commonly found in south-western Germany, specifically in the cities of Munich, Essen, Stuttgart, and Berlin. Outside of Germany, it is also quite popular in Austria and Switzerland.

Dettrich is the 11,123rd most common family name in the world, and the 1,691st most popular in Germany. As a source of pride for its bearers, the surname originates from an important occupation or prestigious title from the Middle Ages. An alternate spelling is Dettrich.

The earliest known records of the Dettrich family exist from as early as 1619, when the name was first noted in the Bavarian region. At this time, Dettrichs were noted as customs collectors for the Church. In 1785, John Dettrich emigrated to the United States, and established a family in Pennsylvania.

Today, the Dettrich surname is increasing in popularity across the world. There are Dettrichs in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, and various other countries.

Variations of the surname Dettrich

The surname Dettrich is an alternative spelling of the German surname Dietrich. It is derived from the Germanic name Theodoric, which consists of two elements: Theod, meaning people and ric, meaning ruler.

Variants of the Dettrich surname are Dietrich, Diestel, Diestelmann, Diedrich, Dieterich, Dederich, Diederich, Detrich, Dettri, Detry, Detray, Dettere, Thedric, Theodoric, Dedrich, Diettrich, Dieterick, Deederick and Teddrik.

Dettrich can also be a surname-variant for other German surnames such as Detarm, Ditter, Dietmann, Dittrich, Dittman and Dettmann.

Spellings of the Dettrich surname can also take on different forms depending on dialect and culture. These variants include Dederik, Dedrick, Deddrick, Dedrik,Detre, Detar, Detar, Detarmann, Detre, Dettrick, Didrik, Dadrick, Detherick, Detterer and Dettrik.

Surnames of similar origin, but not necessarily related, to Dettrich are DeLamette, Detweiler, Dettmann, Dedmon, Demuth, Dentino, and DeTray. These surnames are linked to similar geographical areas of Europe as Dettrich, and are largely of Germanic origin.

Famous people with the name Dettrich

• Kim Dettrie: Singer, songwriter and recording artist
• Amy Dettrie: Olympic Speed Skater
• Tony Dettrie: Music Composer, Guitarist and Producer
• David Dettrie: Actor, known for The Contractor (2013), Sketch the Network (2015) and Dive (2016)
• Leo Dettrie: Olympic Equestrian
• Phyllis Dettrie: Photographer, known for her works in the San Francisco Chronicle
• Robert Dettrie: Cinematographer and Senior Video Editor in the field of broadcast and commercial television production
• Laura Dettrie: Professional Golfer and LPGA Tour Member
• Addrianna Dettrie: Award-winning author and poet
• Eric Dettrie: Professional Cyclist
• Alexander Dettrie: Teacher and Founder of Little Virtuoso, an online education platform

Other surnames

Dettrick