Surname Fredekind - Meaning and Origin

Fredekind: What does the surname Fredekind mean?

The origin of the last name Fredekind is mostly uncertain, yet it is believed to have originated from the German region of Westphalia. It is believed that Fredekind could have derived from the Germanic personal name "Friedrich", meaning "peace" and "kind". Therefore, the Fredekind last name could be seen as a marker of a family’s peace-loving demeanor.

Additionally, Fredekind can also attest to a person’s Saxon German Christian ancestry and is considered a middle to high-class surname dating as far back as the Middle Ages. During this time, during the era of peasants, Fredekind was often associated with rather wealthy and distinguished families, as the Frederick Dynasty rose to become the ruling family in Germany.

The Fredekind surname is also seen as an occupational title, derived from a soldier or other figure that backed up the Dynasty long ago. Hence, many of those especially well off could be seen as either knighted, aristocrats or part of the royal family — all connected and bearing the Fredekind last name.

Modernly, the Fredekind surname is seen to be rather uncommon but spread out in parts of Central Europe. Though the family members may have lost the title and monetary inheritance of the Fredekind elite society of before, the family is still a proud one and remembered by many.

Fredekind: Where does the name Fredekind come from?

The last name Fredekind can be found primarily in Germany, although there are scattered cases of people with the name elsewhere around the world.The Fredekind name can mainly be found in regions of Hannover, Bremen, Thuringia, Saxony, and present day Czech Republic or Poland.

The Fredekind family, who appeared in Germany for the first time during the early 17th century, was likely of a northern German heritage. The name itself is derived a German word which means “the people’s friend” which may have been used to describe a relative or ancestor of the Fredekind family.

Today, the Fredekind name can be located within the areas of the aforementioned cities and regions as well as some parts of the United States. In the United States, individuals with the name Fredekind are believed to have migrated from Germany prior to the American Civil War in the mid 1800s.

The largest concentration of the Fredekind name is in Germany, however it does exist throughout the world thanks to immigration activity of past generations.

Variations of the surname Fredekind

Fredekind is a variant of two Germanic-origin surnames; Friedrich and Frederik. Friedrich is derived from the Germanic element ‘fridu’, meaning ‘peace’, whilst Frederik is derived from ‘frithurikaz’, meaning ‘peace ruler’.

The variant spellings of the surname Fredekind include Fredekund, Fredekonde, Fredeking, Fredekinde, Fredrickind and Fredrikind. Fredrikind is sometimes also seen as Fredricind. Additionally, other surnames related to Fredekind are Fredrich, Frerik and Fredrike.

Fredekind is a popular surname in German countries, where it is also seen occasionally in other parts of Europe. It is also seen to some degree in North America, although primarily among people of Germanic heritage. Some people may not necessarily be aware that they have a Fredekind relative due to their surname having changed over time, for example they may be of Fredrich or Friedrick heritage.

In addition to the variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin, Fredekind also has its own set of common nicknames. These include Fred, Freddy, Fredo, Rik and Freddy.

Famous people with the name Fredekind

• Mark Fredekind: American composer, best known for composing the legendary theme for the educational television series “Sesame Street”, which ran from 1969 to 2019.
• Debra Fredekind: American actress, producer and director best known for her leading role in the films “What Just Happened?” (2008) and “House of Cards” (2009).
• Paul Fredekind: British actor who was active in the 1980s, appearing in films such as Beach Rats (1984) and Flash Gordon (1980).
• Richard Fredekind: German-born American electrical engineer, best known for co-inventing the Critical Angle Refractometer and for his collaboration with Polaroid Corporation.
• Harry Fredekind: British artist whose work is united in its use of light to reveal texture and intricate detail. His work has been exhibited around the world in galleries and major museums.
• David Fredekind: American film, television, and theater producer best known for his work on films such as Drone (2014) and The Face of Love (2013).
• Arthur Fredekind: Austrian doctor and professor of pathology who was best known for his pioneering work on histology and the histopathology of diseases.
• Horace Fredekind: American entomologist who specialized in the taxonomy of the social insects, such as ants and bees.
• Lydia Fredekind: German photographer known for her colorful, whimsical portrait and commercial photography.
• Derek Fredekind: South African professional rugby player who was part of the coastal team in the 2007 Super 14 season.

Other surnames

Fredeking