Surname Frieß - Meaning and Origin

Frieß: What does the surname Frieß mean?

The last name Frieß is a German surname meaning “Freeze” or “Frost”. The name is believed to be an occupational name, typically given to people in cold climates who work with ice or snow. Specifically, it likely originated with people who harvested ice from frozen bodies of water or worked snow for winter pastures. It could also mean “freeze maker” or “snow maker” for those who created winter sports surfaces with their cold-weather craftsmanship.

The earliest record of the Frieß surname was in the 13th century, when a “Fridriscus Fries” was recorded in 1485. The name has spread all across Europe since then, as many German families moved to other countries to make new lives. Variations of the name have also popped up in other countries, including “Freyz” or “Freis” in some areas of Austria and Switzerland.

Today, the Frieß name is still popular throughout Europe. There are also many Americans with this last name, likely descended from Germanic or Austrian immigrants from several generations ago. People who bear this surname can be proud to know that they come from a long line of craftspeople who used their skills to make the best of a cold climate.

Frieß: Where does the name Frieß come from?

The last name Frieß is a German surname and is most commonly found in Southwestern Germany. It is, however, also common throughout Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Czech Republic. Frieß is likely derived from the old German word "frios", which meant "peace" or "freedom". It is likely that the word was adopted as a surname by a family who was particularly peace-loving.

The most common regions for bearing the last name are the state of Rhineland-Palatinate (known as "Rheinland-Pfalz" in German) in southwest Germany and Baden-Württemberg, also in southwest Germany. According to MyHeritage.com, the most densely populated area for the last name is in Rhineland-Palatinate. There, eight out of every 1000 residents share the last name Frieß.

Frieß is an old German surname, with thought to have been established prior to the year 900 and likely associated with the old German "frios" that refers to peace or freedom. Today, the last name is still most popular in its homeland of southwestern Germany, but can also commonly be found throughout Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Czech Republic.

Variations of the surname Frieß

The surname Frieß is derived from the German word "friß" which is a shortened form of the word "frisch", meaning fresh. It has several notable variants and spellings which include Freese, Frees, Fress, Frezen, Freis, and Freß.

The surname may have been used to describe someone who was "fresh" in the sense of being young or energetic. Some sources also suggest that it could have been used to describe someone who was new to a particular area, or who had recently moved.

In North America the spelling Freese is particularly popular, while in Europe the spelling Freis is more common. The variant Frezen is often used in the Netherlands.

The surname Freis may have originated from people from the region of Freisland in Northern Germany. The prefix "Fries" also has roots in the Friesian language, and was used to distinguish between those who spoke the language and those who did not.

Within Europe, the surname Frieß can also be found in France, Austria, and Switzerland. Spellings can vary according to the language and region. For example, in Austria the surname Freiss is used. Additionally, the surname Friedt is used in Switzerland.

The surname Frieß can also take the form of a patronymic, or a surname created from a given name. This occurs in the case of the surnames Freist, Freitag, Fritz, and Freiheit, which all have their roots in the given names Frieder, Friedrich, Fridolin, and Frei.

Overall, the surname Frieß is quite versatile, and has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Frieß

• Arthur Frieß: A German author of children's books, famous for his works like 'Kleiner Eisbär: Das grosse Abenteuer', published in 2016.
• Karl Frieß: A 19th century German sculptor, known mainly for his romantic bronze sculptures depicting biblical scenes.
• Erich Frieß: A mid 20th century German actor remembered for his roles in the movie 'Der große Sprung' (1949) and the play 'My Fair Lady' (1953).
• Edith Frieß: A renowned East German typographer, recognised for her works in printmaking and poster design.
• Luca Frieß: A contemporary German architect, active mainly in the Ruhr region. He has projects currently in development in Essen, Dortmund and Hagen.
• Christian Frieß: A German painter and graphic artist, titled 'Artist of the People' by the East German government in 1955.
• Günter Frieß: A renowned West German cinematographer, active mainly in the 1970s and 80s. He shot several films and documentaries about Germany's reunification.
• Alfred Frieß: A West German classical composer, active mainly in the post-war era. His compositions are mainly inspired by regional folk songs.
• Escher Frieß: An up and coming German actor, known mainly for his works in theatre and television.

Other surnames

Frieße