Surname Drayß - Meaning and Origin
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Drayß: What does the surname Drayß mean?
The last name Drayß is an intriguing and uncommon German name, with origins that are not widely known. It is likely derived from the German word "dreissig" which means "thirty". There is also a possibility that it may be associated with the words "drais" or "draisines". These words refer to a type of small, two-wheeled human-powered vehicle that was created in the 19th century by German inventor Karl Drais von Sauerbronn.
The name Drayß appears to be quite widespread throughout the German region, and could refer to multiple origins. One possibility is that the name was originally acquired by someone who had the occasion to work in making these two-wheeled vehicles. It could also have been given to someone from a region near three or thirty buildings, or a town called Dreissig.
Other possibilities could relate to the fact that "drayß" is a term commonly used for a bundle of straw. It is likely that it also has a spiritual meaning, perhaps referring to the blessing of being enabled to thrive through a difficult times. Additionally, the name could stem from the Middle High German root ‘dreiz’, which means ‘to strive' and likely represents a person or family that works hard and is driven to succeed.
No matter its origin, the name Drayß signifies a hardworking and resilient spirit and an adventurous past that still resonates through its descendants today.
Order DNA origin analysisDrayß: Where does the name Drayß come from?
The surname Drayß is generally associated with ancestors from Alsace or Germany. The original spelling of the name was Dreys and it is widely believed to be derived from a Germanic word meaning “land belonging to a count”.
Today, Drayß is most commonly found in Germany, France, and Luxembourg. In Germany, it is especially common in the former German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, where it ranks amongst the top 500 surnames. In France, the surname is most common in the Grand Est region and the Aube department. It is also found in various countries in northwestern Europe – such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark – and in the United States, where it is mainly concentrated in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and parts of the Midwest.
The surname has also spread to other parts of the world, such as South America (Argentina and Uruguay), Australia, and Canada. Although rare, the surname can also be found in China, India, and South Africa – indicating its far-reaching history over the centuries.
It is estimated that over 8,000 individuals in Europe and the US bear the name, meaning it is still relatively common today despite its ancient origins.
Variations of the surname Drayß
The surname Drayß is a variant of the Germanic name Drayer, a derivative of the Old German Drai, meaning one who worked with drying processes such as salting and food-preservation. In modern orthography, the most common spelling variants are ‘Drayer’, ‘Drayß’ and ‘Drayer’. Other, less commonly used alternatives include Drayes, Dryer, Dreier and Drei.
Drayß is also used as a surname in many countries including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In Austria, variants such as ‘Dreiß’ and ‘Dräss’ are sometimes seen. In Germany, variants such as ‘Drayßen’, ‘Drayßer’, ‘Drayßel’ have been recorded in the past century.
The surname is unusually widespread in comparison to most other Germanic surnames, having spread to countries as far as Canada, the United States, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Estonia, and Hungary. Some of the surnames 'Drays' (or Dreyse) in the USA mean a version of this surname.
In some cases, the surname has been modified through natural usage, such as 'De Dray', 'Derray', 'Drayes', 'Drayton', 'Drayshott', 'Draize', 'Draycott', 'Drayling' and 'Drayburgh'.
Finally, there are cases of persons from France and Italy whose surname is spelt 'Dray', 'Dries' or 'Dreis'. This is thought to be due to the influence of French and Italian languages, which have modified the spelling of the Germanic surname over time.
Famous people with the name Drayß
- Félix Drayß: French footballer who played for AS Nancy, GFC Ajaccio, US Orléans, and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.
- Jens Drayß: East German boxer who competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Ed Drayß: American visual effects supervisor who has worked on the films Jurassic World, Star Trek Into Darkness, The A-Team, and The Fate of the Furious.
- Elliot Drayß: Canadian film director who has directed the music video for "Love Ain't" by The Weeknd.
- Cordelia Drayß: English actress who has appeared in the films Sherlock Holmes, The Prince & Me, and Revolutionary Road.
- Joseph Drayß: American author and illustrator, best known for his work on the books Archaeology Uncovering Our Past and Art & Writing in Early Civilizations.
- Earnest Drayß: American jazz pianist and composer who was a pioneer in bebop music.
- Annette Drayß: German fashion designer and entrepreneur, founder of the fashion label “Freier Modedesign”.
- Dagmar Drayß: Austrian singer-songwriter who has released three albums.
- Petra Drayß: Dutch actress, best known for her roles in the films Amsterdamned and Turks Fruit.