Surname Frißen - Meaning and Origin

Frißen: What does the surname Frißen mean?

The last name Frißen is a German surname that translates to “to break.” As a patronymic surname, it likely originated as a nickname for someone who worked with blacksmithing tools or engaged in manual labor that often involved breaking something.

This type of surname is also referred to as a metonymic occupational surname, which references the profession of the bearer, usually a leader or a senior member of the community in the Middle Ages. In the case of Frißen, it may have been a nickname for a blacksmith or any other type of skilled settler in the community.

It could also have been a name for someone who broke ore or extracted coal in the mines. Alternatively, it might have been applied to someone who broke apart wood to use for fuel, or tore apart animal hides, a common task for villagers living in the German countryside.

The surname Frißen has very deep roots in German heritage, with records of it near the German-Dutch border in the early 1800s. Records indicate that the Frißen family is considered to be of a high social status that predates the 1800s.

The full form of the Frißen surname is Frißen-Reeg, which signifies that it is a variant of a German word ending in “reg”, meaning “rule”. Thus, the Frißen surname could be interpreted as meaning “one who breaks and rules.”

Frißen: Where does the name Frißen come from?

The surname Frißen is most commonly found in Germany, with a majority of those who bear the surname residing in the northern German states of Niedersachsen and Bremen. The surname is derived from the Middle Low German word, "Frys" which means "frying" or "freezing". Frißen may have originally indicated a person who was involved in a particular occupation such as the preparation of food by frying or freezing.

The surname also appears to have spread to other German-speaking areas, such as Austria and Switzerland, in both its original form and as various regionalized spellings such as "Fritzen" and "Froesen".

In more recent years, it appears that some people bearing the surname have emigrated to other parts of Europe, North America and other English-speaking countries. In the United States, for example, a number of individuals with the Frißen surname can be found in modern-day records, though their exact origin is not always easy to trace.

Although the surname is not particularly common today, there continue to be many people who carry the Frißen name in Germany and other German-speaking countries. In addition, a number of people with the Frißen name have successfully settled in other countries, providing further evidence of the historical scope of this unique surname.

Variations of the surname Frißen

The surname Frißen is a German topographic patronymic surname derived from an unspecified location, probably in western Germany. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are: Frissen, Frissend, Frison, Frißon, Frisson, and Friß.

Frißen is derived from a German term for a softer rock type found in upland regions of Germany and could be a variant of a Saxon word implying that the original bearer came from such an area. In modern Germany, Frissen is an archaic spelling of the name, although it is still found in some areas.

The Frisson variant of the surname originates from the French term meaning "cold," suggesting someone from a northern region. Frißon is another variant that also suggests someone from a northern region, while Friß is a more localized variant.

Other surname variants, spellings, and derivatives include Fricon, Frickon, Fricon, Fricon, Fricons, Friconset, Frichewitz, Frichess, Frichevitz, Fricholder, Fricberg, Fricbolds, and Frickson. In the Netherlands and in Flemish Belgium, Freijsen is the variant of this surname, and in some areas, a variant of the surname may actually be Frieson.

The surname has been in existence since the Middle Ages, so many spellings and variations are to be expected, and all of these spellings refer to the same family.

Famous people with the name Frißen

• Thomas Frißen: a German former footballer.
• Augustin Frißen: a maverick writer from Germany who wrote about religion, politics, and philosophy.
• Fred Frißen: a German actor who starred in the famous television comedy series "Stromberg" and "Der Wixxer".
• Hans-Dieter Frißen: a German politician who was elected to the Bundestag in 2017.
• Manfred Frißen: a former German politician affiliated with the Free Democratic Party (FDP).
• Karl-Heinz Frißen: a German footballer who played as a striker.
• Herta Frißen: a German writer who was best known for her children's books.
• Marlies Frißen: a German sculptor and painter known for her beautiful sculptures and paintings.
• Rolf Frißen: a German comedian and comedian who has won several awards for his work.
• Wolfgang Frißen: a German businessman and philanthropist.

Other surnames

Friße