Surname Frize - Meaning and Origin
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Frize: What does the surname Frize mean?
The surname Frize is a variation of the English name ‘Freeze’. The origin of the name is believed to be Middle English, from the Old French ‘fres’ which means ‘to freeze’. It is thought that the name originated as a nickname or descriptive surname attached to a person who was particularly sensitive to cold weather, or who was often found out in cold conditions; likely a resident in a cold, northern area. Albeit less likely, the surname may also carry the connotation of ‘someone who is brave enough to go outdoors in freezing weather.’
It is possible that the spelling variations of Frize evolved as a result of the pronunciation, and the influence of other languages (e.g. French) when the name spread through Europe.
The Frize surname can be found in various countries around the world. In England, it is considered to be one of the less common surnames, although the numbers are increasing. In the United States, its use is far more common — numerous people with the surname can be found in many states, particularly areas near the Northeastern coast.
Frizes have been known to have an entrepreneurial spirit — people with the last name have often been found to be business owners, self-employed, or have gone into respected leadership positions. They can generally be characterized as ambitious, out-going, and independent individuals who strive for success and personal growth.
Order DNA origin analysisFrize: Where does the name Frize come from?
The last name Frize is most commonly found in North America today. It was first introduced to the continent by French Huguenot immigrants. These refugees were fleeing religious and political persecution in Europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Most of the individuals carrying the Frize surname today would be descendants of these immigrants. According to records, the highest concentration of the last name is in the United States, followed by Canada and France.
In the US, most individuals named Frize are found in the Midwest. This includes states like Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. In Canada, most individuals with the last name Frize are concentrated in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.
Those named Frize tend to have ancestries with roots in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Those named Frize with French backgrounds often originate from Alsace-Lorraine, Brittany, and the Normandy region. German ancestries tend to come from the Palatine region, while British ancestries can trace their roots to the British Isles.
Regardless of where the last name Frize originates from, it is a relatively uncommon name today. According to the most recent census data, fewer than 2,500 individuals carry the last name in the United States.
Variations of the surname Frize
The surname Frize is of French origin and is derived from the words "frizier" and "frizier", which mean hairdresser. This name is also from a nickname for someone who styled and dressed their hair very carefully. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Frise, Friese, Freeze, Freese, Fries, Friesen, Fraisse, Fruis, Fruz, Fris, Fryz, Fryze, Fryzon and Frizelle.
The Friese variant likely began as a patronymic, or hereditary surname, derived from ‘son of Frize’. This version may also be found as Fryse, Fries, Friesen and Frieson. Meanwhile, the Frise variant stems from Old French ‘frizier’ and likely was a nickname given to someone known to carefully style their hair. This surname may also appear as freeze, Freese, Fruis, Fruz, Fris, Fryz, Fryze and Fryzon. Lastly, the Frizelle spelling is of French origin, derived from the word ‘frizelle’, which means to ‘tress’ or ‘braid’.
Variants of the Frize surname found all around the world as a result of migration. During the Middle Ages, various branches of the same family would use variations of the original spelling to identify themselves. While some families may have continued to use the original spelling over generations, others may have changed their surname spellings due to the difficulty of spelling words in different languages or for various other reasons.
Famous people with the name Frize
- Barbara Frize: Canadian electrical engineer and professor
- John Frize: British actor
- Celeste Frize: Youtuber and blogger
- John Frize Jr.: British actor
- Patrick Frize: French footballer
- Paul Frize: French musician
- Michael Frize: Swiss composer
- David Frize: Former Australian bank executive
- Dianne Frize: Canadian photographer
- Nicholle Frize: Canadian fashion designer