Surname Dreiser - Meaning and Origin
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Dreiser: What does the surname Dreiser mean?
The last name Dreiser is believed to be of German origin. The literal meaning of the name is likely derived from the word "Drieser," which is an old German term for a furrier or someone who traded in fur. It may have also been derived from a German occupational name for someone who worked with clay, specifically as a potter. The name is also thought to derive from the Middle High German word "Dreiser," which means "to bind firmly or to adorn with ribbons."
Dreiser is quite a rare surname, with only about one thousand households having the surname in the United States. In Germany, it is found mainly in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony. It can also be found in the Netherlands and French where the name could have been adopted by Huguenots from Germany who fled religious persecution in the 17th century.
The famous American novelist Theodore Dreiser of An American Tragedy fame had this surname; there is no sure indication that he hailed from the same German lineage as the surname bearers across the United States. The surname also has famous namesakes in various other fields such as the Austrian journalist Ernst Dreiser and the German statistician Adolph Dreiser.
In conclusion, the last name Dreiser has German origins, and it is quite rare. The literal meaning of the name refers to a furrier or clay worker, and it could also be a derived from a Middle High German word meaning ‘to bind firmly or to adorn with ribbons.’ The surname is found mainly in America, Germany, Netherlands and France, and many famous people have borne this name.
Order DNA origin analysisDreiser: Where does the name Dreiser come from?
The last name Dreiser is most common today among people of German descent across the world. It is particularly common in the United States, where it was brought to by immigrants of German ancestry in the 19th century.
The first recorded instance of the name Dreiser appeared in 18th century Germany, where a man named Heinrich Christian Dreiser served as a tax collector in the town of Essen. Since then, the name has been passed down through generations of German-American families.
The name Dreiser is still quite common across the United States. It is most common in states with large populations of people of German descent, such as New York, Pennsylvania, and especially Wisconsin. In Pennsylvania, the last name Dreiser is even more common than in Germany.
Elsewhere around the world, people with the last name Dreiser live in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. It is not as common in these places as it is in the United States, but it is still seen from time to time.
Overall, the last name Dreiser is still quite common today among people of German descent around the world, especially in the United States.
Variations of the surname Dreiser
The surname Dreiser is an occupational name meaning 'dyer' in Middle German. It is derived from the words 'dreissen' and 'dreißen' which refer to dipping fabric into dye or tincture. Other spelling variants for Dreiser include Dräiser, Dräsler, Dreseler, Dreßer, and Dresler.
The surname also has several geographical variants, which are used to identify people who are originally from specific parts of Germany. For instance, those from East Frisia may be referred to as Drässer, while those from northern Westphalia may also be called Drässer or Dreiser. Additionally, those from Bregenzerwald, Austria may be described as Dreßler or Dreßle.
Surnames often undergo phonetic changes over time, and that is why various other surnames are considered to be linked to Dreiser. This includes Dreyser, Dresser, Dresher, Draisser, Dressel, and Dresseler.
It is likely that all of these surnames have the same origin, but due to various spelling and pronunciation changes over many years, they may now be used differently to describe a single family's lineage. Major immigration events in history may have also contributed to the emergence of new surnames from the original Dreiser. It is also possible that other surnames such as Dreisbach and Dresbach are related and could have descended from the original Dreiser.
Famous people with the name Dreiser
- Theodore Dreiser: an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school of thought. He is known for his works Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy.
- James T. Dreiser: an American architect from the city of New York. He was a major proponent of McKim, Mead & White's Beaux-Arts classical style.
- Evan Dreiser: an American actor who has appeared in a variety of television shows, movies, and theatrical productions. He is best known for his role of Miles in The Wiz Live!
- Rick Dreiser: an American alpine ski racer. He won the slalom event at the 2003 World Championships in Sölden, Austria.
- Richard Dreiser: an American banker and Chairman of Citigroup International from 2006-2008.
- Siobhan Dreiser: an American figure skater. She won the bronze medal at the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and also competed at the 2006 World Championships.
- Charles Dreiser: an American politician who represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 2007.
- Rochelle Dreiser: an American singer and songwriter. She has released a number of solo albums and singles over her career and is most well known for her song "Falling".
- Tommy Dreiser: an American singer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known for his single "Magic Box" which was released on the 20th anniversary of his self-titled debut album "Dreiser".
- David Dreiser: an American fiction writer from New York City. His debut novel The Day Before Midnight was published in 2017.