Surname Dreißen - Meaning and Origin

Dreißen: What does the surname Dreißen mean?

The last name Dreißen is of German origin. It is derived from the German word 'dreißig' meaning 'thirty'. The name is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who was the 30th-born child in a particular family. It could also refer to someone from a settlement which was known for its 30 households, making the name a topographic surname.

The name Dreißen can be found in various documents in Germany as far back as the late 1700s when the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) was taking place. Several individuals from this era are known to have borne the surname Dreißen.

The name Dreißen is still quite common in Germany, with individuals bearing the surname chiefly residing in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also found in Austria and Switzerland. In other countries outside of Europe, it is quite rare, although some individuals have also been recorded having the surname in the United States and Canada.

As with many surnames, the exact meaning of the name Dreißen is unclear as the etymology of the name remains obscure. It is possible that the name is in reference to the ancient Germanic numeral system. Speculatively, it could also have originated as a nickname for a fair complected person who otherwise tanned easily due to working outdoors.

The surname Dreißen today lives on to be passed down in generations just like its namesake does embody - the indelible mark of a lasting legacy.

Dreißen: Where does the name Dreißen come from?

The last name Dreißen is a German surname which is most common in Germany and in other German-speaking countries like Austria and Switzerland. It is likely that the name originates from the German word "dreißig", which translates to thirty, indicating that the first person to take on the Dreißen name was either born in the 30th year of their parents marriage or was the thirty-something generation in their family tree.

In modern times, there are currently an estimated 4,166 people in Germany with the last name Dreißen. The name can be found in a variety of cities throughout the country, but is most common in Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. Outside of Germany, it is most common in Austria and Switzerland, especially in major cities like Vienna and Zurich. Of course, the name is also found in the United States, with over 144 people bearing it. The majority of these reside in California and New York, with other states like Washington, Wisconsin, and Michigan home to the second-most Dreißsens.

Given the relatively low amount of people carrying the last name, it is likely that those with the last name are either related or have common ancestry, which could not only explain the name's spread, but also give insight into the history and origins of the Dreißen family.

Variations of the surname Dreißen

The Dreißen surname can be found in a variety of spellings in different countries and regions. These include Dreesen, Driesen, Dresen, Dräßen, Dreßen, Dreißig, Dreisz, Dreiss, Dreisig, and Dreysen.

The variants of the Dreißen surname often follow the spelling conventions from the countries and regions they come from. For example, in Germany, Dreißen is often spelled with an umlaut, whilst in other countries, it can be variously spelled with or without an umlaut. Other regional spellings of the Dreißen surname may also include Dreißig, Dreissig, and similarly spelled names.

The surnames Dreißen and Dreiszig likely originate from the same genealogy and are likely related. They both refer to the concept of ‘thirty’ and could refer to a family’s thirty-year cycle or period.

The Dreißen surname has at times occurred as a derivative of ‘Dries’, ‘Drysen’, or ‘Driesman’, which are Dutch surnames derived from the given name ‘Dries’. It is also sometimes found as a variant of the German surnames ‘Dräßig’ and ‘Dreßig’.

In Ireland, the surname Dreißen is often found in its alternate spelling ‘Drissin’, likely from the Gaelic spelling of ‘Draoidheasan’, which means ‘druid’s descendant’.

The Dreißen surname is also found in Poland as ‘Dreisz’. It is thought to be derived from the Slavic element ‘Drieść’ which means ‘bear’.

In the United States, the surname is found in the spelling ‘Dreiss’. This spelling appears to have been an Americanization of the German surname, ‘Dresen’. The Dreiss spelling is currently most common in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Famous people with the name Dreißen

• Lena Dreißen: German actress
• Till Dreißen: German actor
• Florian Dreißen: German photographer
• Becki Dreißen: German poet
• Tanno Dreißen: German actor
• Bill Dreißen: American singer
• Ute Dreißen: German photographer
• John Dreißen: British illustrator
• Tom Dreißen: American sculptor
• Hans-Peter Dreißen: German football player

Other surnames

Dreißer