Surname Driehsen - Meaning and Origin

Driehsen: What does the surname Driehsen mean?

The last name Driehsen is a toponymic surname that originated from a small village called Driehsen in northeastern Germany. This village was known to exist as early as in the 13th century and hence, people bearing the last name of Driehsen may have been settled there for many generations.

The meaning of the name is derived from two German terms - "Dreie" and "Hausen". The former term translates to "three", while the latter one means "homes" or "houses". This suggests that originally there were three or more homes in the village, which eventually led to the name Driehsen.

The name Driehsen is widely spread throughout Germany and also in the West Germanic language countries such as Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden. Over the course of time, spelling variations have occurred, making this name quite malleable in its different forms.

Amongst the modern world, the last name Driehsen has several forms such as Dreihausen, Dreysen, Dreisohn, Dreisand and Dreysen.No matter the spelling variation, carrying this name has its own significance, identity and pride.

Driehsen: Where does the name Driehsen come from?

The last name Driehsen is most commonly found today in Germany and other German-speaking regions of Europe. The name is believed to have originated in the area north of the Rivers Rhine and Elbe, in the Germany region of Saxony-Anhalt. Driehsen is a relatively uncommon surname, with an estimated 3500 people currently bearing the name.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Driehsen dates back to 1687, when a Herman Driehsen was listed as a parishioner in the village of Borne in Hannover. Later mentions date back to as early as 1735, when four families took on the Driehsen name in the parish of Böhlitz-Ehrenberg. Records show that by the early 1800s, members of the Driehsen family had scattered across much of Northern Germany.

Many members of the Driehsen family, particularly those living in the towns of Nordhausen, Bebra and Eichenberg, later emigrated to North America. Today, many American-born descendants of the Driehsen family reside in states such as Michigan, Iowa, California, and Minnesota.

In Europe, pockets of Driehsen descendants can be found as far east as Poland, and as far north as Scandinavia. Driehsen family members also remain present in Germany, mostly in the east. This includes Saxony-Anhalt in particular, an area which is historically identified with the Driehsen name.

Variations of the surname Driehsen

The surname Driehsen is of German origin and has multiple spellings and variants. These include Dreyhsen, Dreyhson, Drehsen, Drehson, Trayhsen, Trayhson, Treyhsen, Treyhson, Treathsen, Treathson, Trehsen, and Trehson.

The root of Driehsen is derived from the German word ‘drei’ meaning “three”, and the surname “Driehsen” likely simply meant “son of three”. The suffix ‘-hsen’ or ‘-hson’, which was a common addition in names of Low German origin, would have been added to designate the person’s relationship as a descendant of three generations of a family, or as being born third in a family.

In addition to the derivatives listed above, the surname Driehsen has other associated surnames as well. These include Dreisen, Driesen, Dreesen, Dresen, and Drisen. These surnames are related because they are all derived from the same root word ‘drei’, but have changed slightly in spelling over the course of time.

In the US, the earliest known instance of the Driehsen surname was recorded in 1857 in Philly, PA. Since then, the Driehsen surname has spread across the US and beyond, with descendants of the name now living all over the world.

Famous people with the name Driehsen

• Uwe Driehsen: German actor, singer, and songwriter
• Clément Driehsen: French professional cyclist
• Paul Driehsen: German violist and music professor
• Martin Driehsen: German pole vaulter
• Friedrich-Karl Driehsen: German equestrian painter
• Gisbert Driehsen: Swedish entrepreneur
• Elisabeth Driehsen: German lawyer and historian
• Kurt Driehsen: German producer, director, and screenwriter
• Norbert Driehsen: German actor
• Joseph Driehsen: German sculptor

Other surnames

Driehs