Surname Freess - Meaning and Origin
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Freess: What does the surname Freess mean?
The last name Freess is an occupational name that originated in Germany. It is derived from the German word ‘freis’, which means ‘free’. This likely indicates that the original bearer was a person who was not legally bound by a feudal lord - they were ‘free’ to pursue any pursuits they desired. It was likely a name given to an apprentice who had completed their apprenticeship and was now formally ‘free’ to pursue their trade.
The name Freess is most common in Germany, and is also found in other parts of the world as a result of German migration, such as the United States and northern Europe. It is often spelled variations of the original spelling, such as ‘Friss’, ‘Frees’, and ‘Freesse’.
The surname carries a sense of independence, freedom, and strength. Families with this name are often proud of their heritage and the spirit of freedom that has been passed down through the generations. The Freess surname often appears in records from the 17th century onwards, indicating that it has a long and significant history.
Order DNA origin analysisFreess: Where does the name Freess come from?
The last name Freess is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the south and central regions. In 2019, there were over 7,000 people in Germany with the last name Freess. It is also found in other European countries, such as Austria, Liechtenstein, Poland, and the Czech Republic, but these countries have much smaller populations with this last name.
In the United States, the last name Freess is not particularly common; however, some Americans with this surname can be found. The states with the largest population of Freess are Texas, California, and North Carolina. In these states, there are fewer than 200 people with the last name Freess.
Other countries with a small population of Freess include Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil.
The Freess surname may have originated as an occupational name related to woodworking. Freess is also a variant of the German surname Freese.
In conclusion, the surname Freess is most common in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Poland, and the Czech Republic, and less common in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil. Although it is not particularly common, some people with the surname Freess can be found in these countries.
Variations of the surname Freess
The surname Freess is of German origin and has several variants and spellings. Typical variants include Freese, Freyes, Friese, Frise, Friess, Friz and Friss. It can also appear as Freyss and Frizes.
The origin of the surname is from the Middle High German word "vrise" which mean curly or frizzy hair. As a personal name, Frees is first recorded as "Froese" in the 13th century. The name eventually became associated with those who were living near a fringe, or a border in the Rhineland region.
Variants of the surname Freess also appear in other German-speaking countries, such as Freyser in Switzerland, Freiser in Austria, and Freiser in South Tyrol. Recent generations in the United States have adopted variant spellings such as Freece and Freeze.
The surname Freess is still used today as both a first name and a surname. It is a common name in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, and is increasingly found throughout much of Europe, North America, Latin America, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Freess
- Wolfgang Freess: Wolfgang Freess (1665–1732) was a German painter, engraver and architect active in Leipzig, Thuringia.
- Geno Freess: Geno Freess (1890–1979) was a German costume designer for stage and film.
- Frieda Freess: Frieda Freess (1876–1945) was a German film actress who worked primarily in the silent film era from 1915 to 1921.
- Glory Freess: Glory Freess (1936–1995) was a German actress who worked in television from the 1950s to the 1970s.
- Rainer Freess: Rainer Freess (born 1959) is a German actor, singer, and television presenter.
- Manfred Freess: Manfred Freess (1920–2006) was a German doctor, university professor and politician who served as President of the German Academy of Sciences and Humanities from 1985 to 1990.
- Anne Freess: Anne Freess (1961–1999) was an East German athlete who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Lorenz Freess: Lorenz Freess (1743–1812) was a German organist and composer, active at the court of Württemberg.