Surname Dreifuss - Meaning and Origin

Dreifuss: What does the surname Dreifuss mean?

The last name Dreifuss is of German and Jewish origin. It is a combination name, derived from the old German 'drei' meaning three and 'fuss' meaning foot. It is likely that the name originated as a nickname for someone of perceived trifootedness or three-footedness.

The earliest known usage of the Dreifuss name was in the late 1800s in Germany. It was said to be a family name with roots in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. The family is believed to have originated from a small Jewish village in the area.

Surnames were adopted by many cultures during the medieval period in order to distinguish individuals and families from one another and the Dreifuss name was likely taken on by a Jewish family during the early days of surnames.

The Dreifuss family is said to have been part of a large extended Jewish family with strong roots in the Frankfurt area near Germany’s western border with France.

The Dreifuss family is well known for its achievements in the world of medicine and science. Hans Dreifuss was a prominent neurologist whose works pioneered electroencephalography while Hermann and Ludmila Dreifuss were both pioneer radiologists in Germany and Austria.

Today, members of the extended Dreifuss family are scattered throughout the world in countries such as Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Israel, and South Africa, among others. Many of these descendants have gone on to make significant contributions in their respective fields.

Dreifuss: Where does the name Dreifuss come from?

The last name Dreifuss is most commonly found today in the country of Switzerland. Although Switzerland is one of the smallest countries in Europe, the last name is highly represented across the 26 cantons spread throughout the country. The origins of the Dreifuss family can be traced back to the 15th century where records show that several members of the same family were living in the northern parts of Switzerland.

There is evidence that before settling there, the family may have originated from Germany given the similarity of the name to Dreifüss, which is a more common German last name. Although some have left the country for places such as the United States and Canada, the vast majority of Dreifuss family members are still living in Switzerland with a particularly large concentration around Zurich.

In addition to Switzerland, the last name is also common in other parts of Europe, including Germany, France, and Italy. Today, there may be as many as 10,000 people in the world with the last name Dreifuss.

Variations of the surname Dreifuss

The surname Dreifuss is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘triwëfûs’, which translates to ‘three feet’. There are a variety of spellings and variants for this surname, due to differences in language, dialect, and phonetics. Some of the variants include: Dreifus, Dreifuss, Dreifuß, Dreifuße, Dreifues, Dreifuesse, Driefus, Driefuss, Driefuß, and Dreifuesse.

The most common spelling variants are Dreifuss and Dreifus, which is found predominantly in the United States. Other spellings such as Dreifuß and Dreifuße are used in Germany, while Driefuss and Driefus are common in Europe. Additionally, Dreifuesse is common in Switzerland and Austria.

The variants of Dreifuss are usually represented by different spelling versions of the same initial surname. For example, Driefus and Dreifus are derived from the same root Dreifuss. Similarly, Driefuss, Driefuß, Dreifuß and Dreifuße are also derived from Dreifuss.

In some cases, a variation of the original spelling may indicate that the bearer of the surname is of Jewish origin. For example, Dreifus is a common spelling by Ashkenazic Jews. This spelling is unique in that most Jews of Ashkenazi origin used either “f” for “f” or “t” for “s”.

The surname Dreifuss may also be derived from other variants such as Dreifuer, Dreifueth, Dreifuether, Dreifuetter, Dreifawer, Driefauer, Driefauter, Denefus, Deifhus, Deifus, Deifoux, Deifuß, Derifuss, Drevus, Dreyfus, Dreyfuss, and Dreyfuscht.

Overall, there is a wide range of spellings and surnames with the same origin as Dreifuss. It is important to note that the spelling of this surname may vary depending on the country of origin and time period.

Famous people with the name Dreifuss

• Rudy Driefuss, Swiss politician and former Swiss President
• Christian Dreifuss, German filmmaker and photographer
• Robert Dreifuss, American neurologist
• Danny Dreifuss, American football coach
• Monique Dreifuss-Kattan, French-American painter and sculptor
• Alex Dreifuss, American writer and journalist
• Sigrid Dreifuss, German journalist and author
• Herbert Dreifuss, Austrian film director and actor
• Michael Dreifuss, American legal journalist and author
• Katharine D. Dreifuss, American neurobiologist and geneticist

Other surnames

Dreifus

Comments or additions to the name "Dreifuss"

31.12.2023
Former Swiss président: Ruth Dreifuss