Surname Diderichs - Meaning and Origin

Diderichs: What does the surname Diderichs mean?

The last name Diderichs is of German origin and is a variant spelling of the surname, Didericks. According to the Dictionary of American Family Names, the Diderichs surname evolved from a German nickname for a wealthy person, derived from the German "dieter" meaning "rich," and "richt" meaning "mighty." It is possible that the surname was originally adopted by a member of a wealthy family.

The spelling of Diderichs appears in records in Germany from the mid 1700s, indicating that it was in use for at least some time. It appears at that time in records of birth, marriage and death, as well as estate documents and military records. It is possible that the surname began as a nickname and then was formally adopted as a surname.

There are quite a number of variants of the last name in Germany and in other countries, including Dyderichs, Dietrichs, Dittricks, Tiede Richs and Ditrihe. In certain parts of Germany, the surname has evolved into Diederichs and recently Diedrichs.

The 2011 German census showed over two thousand people with the surname Diderichs, spread across many German states, suggesting that the name is quite common in the country. Today, it is found in many other European countries, as well as in the US, Australia and Canada, where the variant spellings may be used.

Diderichs: Where does the name Diderichs come from?

The last name Diderichs is primarily found in Germany, although people bearing this name may be found spread throughout the world. It is most commonly found in the parts of Northern Germany and in the Netherlands, where the dialect of Low German is still spoken.

In Germany, the name can be traced back to early forms of writing in which it appears in documents from the 12th century. Records show that the name Diderichs originated in regions like Saxonia, Westphalia and Brandenburg, but it spread to other parts of the country over time.

In the United States, the last name is associated with the large number of European emigrants who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries who bore the name. The descendants of these individuals can be found across the country, although the largest numbers of Diderichs can be found in the Midwestern states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, which have numerous German-American communities.

The last name can also be found in numerous other countries, such as Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, as well as in other parts of Europe. It is likely that individuals bearing this last name can be found in most major countries and cities across the world.

Variations of the surname Diderichs

The surname Diderichs is an old German surname of patronymic origin. It is derived from the given name Conrad, which was a popular name in medieval Germany. Variants and spellings of the name include Didderichs, Dieterichs, Didericks, Didericksen, Dideriksen, Diderikssen, Dietericks, and Dietericksen.

In the old German language, the letter 'C' was often replaced with a 'D' in personal names. As such, the two versions of the name (Diderichs and Didderichs) are quite common. Similarly, the suffix ‘-s’, which is the German word for 'son', was very frequently used at the end of names. This 'son' suffix was often dropped in modern times, resulting in alternate forms of the name such as Didderich, Diderich, Dieterich, and Dietericks.

The surname Diderichs is also known by other German-speaking countries. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the name is Diderichs and Didderichs, while in Denmark and Norway it is Dideriksen and Diderikssen. Over time, the name may have been further altered or localized in some regions, resulting in spelling variants such as Dyderichs and Deiderichs.

Another variant of the surname is Diderichsen, which is a common middle name in Denmark, popularly given in honor of the ancestor with the surname Diderichs.

In addition, variants of the name may be found when families began to emigrate to different countries. In the United States, the name is commonly found as Dieters or Dietrichs.

Famous people with the name Diderichs

• Bernd Diderichs: German entrepreneur and the first Team Leader of the Skyride at Alton Towers Theme Park.
• Manfred Diderichs: German composer of religious works.
• Tara Diderichs: US-based fashion designer, who serves as the Vice President and Head of Trend and Design at a leading fashion brand.
• Anke Diderichs: German singer and songwriter.
• Johan J. Diderichs: Dutch theologian and author.
• Rudolf Diderichs: German entomologist and arachnologist.
• Rolf Diderichs: German journalist, author and film director.
• Max Diderichs: German mathematician of the 19th century.
• Peter Diderichs: German painter and illustrator.
• Bernhard Diderichs: German actor and director.

Other surnames

DiderichDidericks