Surname von Frisch - Meaning and Origin
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von Frisch: What does the surname von Frisch mean?
The last name von Frisch is derived from the German-language verb "frisch," meaning "fresh and new." It originates from the Middle High German word, vrost, meaning "shiny." The von Frisch surname may have been a noble title that was granted to families in the Middle Ages that held an important position in society.
Von Frisch is a prominent name within the scientific community, as it has been used by several notable scientists, such as Austrian zoologist and Nobel Laureate Karl von Frisch who made groundbreaking discoveries on the behavior of bees. German biochemist Otto von Frisch was also a Nobel Laureate and formulated the Serendipity Principle while he was a professor at the University of Vienna.
Today, von Frisch is a popular surname throughout Germany and Austria, and is gaining recognition in other parts of the world as well. It is associated with innovation, fresh ideas, and ambition; having achieved international fame as a result of its link to successful scientists and important contributions to science.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Frisch: Where does the name von Frisch come from?
The last name von Frisch is most commonly associated with Konrad von Frisch, a German-Austrian zoologist and Nobel Prize-winning scientist who made major contributions to the study of honey bee behavior and communication. Today, the von Frisch surname is primarily associated with various towns in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany.
In Austria, the surname von Frisch is found in the Tyrol region, particularly around the cities of Innbruck and Kufstein. It is also fairly common around the Burgenland region which straddles the border with Hungary. In Switzerland, the towns of St. Gallen, Thurgau, and Zürich all have high numbers of people with the von Frisch surname. Germany also has pockets of von Frisch surnames. The city of Frankfurt is particularly known for having a high number of people with the von Frisch surname.
While von Frisch is not a particularly common last name today, it still evokes much respect in the scientific community as a result of Konrad von Frisch’s legacy.
Variations of the surname von Frisch
Variants of the surname von Frisch include Frisch, Friesch, Freyss, Freyssch, Friese, Fryss, and Freiss. Other spellings include Frish, Fresch, Vons Frisch, vFrisch, and vonFreiss.
The surname von Frisch is of Germanic origin. Its ancient form was Vrinces or Frins, which is derived from the Middle High German words "vrin" or "vrinne" which meaning is "brave and courageous" and "cece” meaning "honor".
The surname spread to many Central and Eastern European regions and some ethnic German border regions of Austria and the Czech Republic. It can also be found in northern and eastern Switzerland.
The surname is also based on a geographical origin from locations named “Vrin” or “Frisch” in Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and in other European countries.
In the United States, its various spellings are more commonly found with the surname Frisch. Though the surname as a whole can be found in many places throughout the world, its spread began in Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.
Famous people with the name von Frisch
- Karl von Frisch (1886-1982): Nobel Prize-winning zoologist, pioneer in animal behavior research, and a professor at the University of Munich.
- Otto von Frisch (1898-1982): Austrian zoologist and Nobel Prize-winning founder of ethology. He made pioneering studies of animal behavior and was also an honorary professor at the University of Vienna.
- Karl-Ernst von Frisch (1902-1984): Son of Otto von Frisch, zoologist and Nobel Prize-winning affiliate of the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Physiology in Seewiesen, Germany.
- Adelma von Frisch (1878-1948): Austrian-born actress, influential in the early days of German film, often typecast as an evil mother-in-law or stepmother.
- Alfons von Frisch (1896-1984): Austrian-born actor, known for his leading roles in many early German film classics.
- Rudolf von Frisch (1816-1889): Austrian physiologist and professor at the University of Vienna. He made seminal contributions to the study of the nervous system.
- Paul Johann Anselm von Frisch (1794-1867): Austrian botanist, entomologist and ornithologist. He was the first to describe the mating dance of honeybees, and wrote a number of books on birds and insects.
- Wilhelm von Frisch (1769-1845): German educator and botanist, known for his botanical research and for introducing the scientific method to education in Germany.
- Julius von Frisch (1825-1898): Austrian physician and zoologist, and the co-discoverer of the migration patterns of European bats.
- Marie von Frisch (1903-1998): Sun of Karl von Frisch and Grete von Frisch, Austrian-born researcher in biological sciences, specializing in the field of animal behavior.