Surname Frisell - Meaning and Origin
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Frisell: What does the surname Frisell mean?
The last name Frisell is a Swedish toponymic surname derived from the word "Frisölle," which means descendant of Frese. Frese was a personal name used in pre-Christian Scandinavia that was derived from the Old Norse element "frið," which means peace.
Frisell families can trace their lineage back to the province of Småland in Sweden, where the name first appeared in the 1300's. The family branches then moved to other parts of the country, including Norrland and Stockholm.
Frisells today can also trace their family roots back to the Middle Ages, where the surname is believed to have been a signifier of rank among the upper classes in Sweden. Early records suggest that the Frisell family was active in public life and many of the members of the family were important figures in their local communities.
In modern times, the surname Frisell is still fairly common in Sweden, particularly in the province of Småland, where it is the 20th most common surname. The name can also be found sporadically around the world, particularly in Norway, Finland, Denmark, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisFrisell: Where does the name Frisell come from?
The last name Frisell is most common in Sweden, where it originally hails from, as well as the United States and other countries with large Scandinavian populations, including Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark. It is also found in Australia, Canada, the UK, and other English-speaking countries where people with a Scandinavian background have immigrated.
The name Frisell has been traced back to the 1100s in the medieval Swedish province of Östergötland. It is thought to have derived from the noun frisa, which means 'trifling.' Of course, this is only speculation since records from this period are incredibly limited.
Today, there are thousands of individuals who bear the last name Frisell in Sweden and elsewhere. Swedes are likely to find more Frisells in their immediate vicinity than, say, Canadians or Brits. This is because the population density of Sweden is over fifteen times higher than that of the United States (and almost three times that of the UK).
Frisell is also a popular last name among artists. The late American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, who was heavily influenced by his Norwegian heritage, bore the same last name (and occasionally traditional Scandinavian instruments, such as hardanger fiddle and the nyckelharpa, featured in his work).
Variations of the surname Frisell
The surname Frisell is of German, Swedish and Danish origins. It is derived from the combination of the Old German words fris and lind meaning 'holly wood' and 'beautiful'. The variants for this surname includes Frisell, Friselle, Freysell, Friesell, Friselle, Freisell and Frierselle. In addition, it can be used as Freezle, Friesel, Fresa, Fraise, and Fressell.
In Germany, the various forms of the name are recorded in the German language, including Frisell, Friesel, Friesell, Freisell, Friesel, Fresell, Fressl, Fressle, Frazel, Frazzel, Freysel, Freysell, Frisela, Frierselle, Freaselle and Freiesel.
In Sweden, the various spellings of the name include Frisell, Frisell, Friselle, Frejsell, Fresell, Friesell, Freysell, Fresa, Fressa, Fressä, Fresä, Fressle and Fryssell.
In Denmark, the Danish variants of the name include Frisell, Frissel, Friselle, Frisel, Friesell, Frisele, Friesele, Friesla, Frejsele, Frejsell, Fresa, Fresaa, Fressa, Fressl, Fressle, Fressler, Freysel, Freysle, Freesel, Fraesel, Frelsele, Freiele and Friesle.
No matter where it is used, the surname Frisell seems to denote someone from a beautiful, holly wooded area. It is an interesting and unique surname that has been around for centuries, taking on different forms as it has travelled across various Germanic cultures.
Famous people with the name Frisell
- Bill Frisell: Bill Frisell is an American jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger. He is considered one of the most important and influential guitarists in jazz and modern music.
- Joe Frisell: Joe Frisell is an American jazz pianist and organist. He is well known for his work in the electric jazz trio, The Frisell Brothers.
- Randy Frisell: Randy Frisell is an American saxophonist and composer. He has released several records under his own name as well as with the Frisell Brothers trio.
- Mark Frisell: Mark Frisell is an American jazz bassist, composer, and arranger. He has released a number of albums, including the critically acclaimed Mark Freesell Trio.
- Jimmy Frisell: Jimmy Frisell is an American jazz drummer and composer. He is known for his distinctive sound and has worked with many of the most revered jazz musicians of past and present.
- John Frisell: John Frisell is an American jazz and blues guitar player and composer. He is known for his creative and unusual guitar style.
- Mary Frisell: Mary Frisell is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She has released numerous albums blending jazz, blues, and folk music.
- David Frisell: David Frisell is an American jazz pianist and composer. He is known for his eclectic and inventive style, blending classical, jazz, rock, and world music.