Surname Dryander - Meaning and Origin
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Dryander: What does the surname Dryander mean?
The last name Dryander is a German surname meaning ‘judge’ or ‘administrator’. It is a particularly mysterious and uncommon surname, with its known origins in the ancient kingdom of East Franconia, located in modern-day Bavaria.
The kingdom of East Franconia was a state of medieval Germany, with the Dryander surname apparently appearing for the first time in the records of Bishop Bernward, a 10th-century religious leader. Bernward served as an advisor and administrator in the court of the East Franconian ruler, and it is believed that the Dryander surname was derived from the title given to him, drihtuwalt, or ‘judge’. In modern German, this title is known as Richter.
This would have been a very prestigious position in a royal court. Having such a powerful and important place at the ruler’s table could have been considered a great honor, and it may be why the Dryander name was adopted by those related to Bishop Bernward.
Since then, the Dryander name has seen several variations over the centuries, and it is believed to have spread from East Franconia to parts of Germany, Austria, and Poland.
In general, the Dryander surname signifies a strong sense of justice and a prestigious, respected background. It remains an uncommon surname, but those who do have it likely take great pride in its meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisDryander: Where does the name Dryander come from?
The surname Dryander is most commonly seen today in the countries of Sweden and Finland, although it is also present in other Scandinavian countries, including Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
The Dryander family tree is believed to have its origins in Sweden, where records trace the name back to the 1600s when a peasant family named Dryander was living in the province of Västergötland. The original spelling is thought to have been "Dryalinder".
Between 1658 and 1683, many of the Dryanders emigrated to Finland, where the name has remained popular. One notable family is that of military commander Ivar Dryander (1782-1833).
At the start of the 21st century, Dryander was the 286th most common surname in Finland. There are estimated to be around 3,000 Dryanders living in the Scandinavian nations today.
The surname has also been present in the United States for some time, with the earliest record being a Frederick Dryander who arrived in 1885 from Finland. However, it is not very common in the States.
The Dryander name has spread across the world since it first appeared in Sweden all those centuries ago. It remains most popular in Sweden and Finland, however, with around 3,000 members of the Dryander family still living in Scandinavia today.
Variations of the surname Dryander
The surname Dryander is of Scandinavian origin and comes from the Old Norse-Icelandic name “Dreiðandi”, meaning "the one who drags or pulls". The most common spellings for this surname, stemming from its classic English use, are Dreyer, Dryer and Dryers, with the ‘a’ often dropped from the middle. However, early records of the surname reveal a number variants on spelling, including “Drayander”, “Drideuer”, “Drider”, “Drynder” and “Drinder”.
As the Industrial Revolution developed, Dryanders often adopted different spelling variations of their family name in order to adopt to new countries or foreign spelling conventions, creating a number of new surname variations. These include conventions such as anti-German sentiment during World War One, which caused many German-Americans to change their names to more Americanized or Anglicized versions.
In the UK, the variant spellings of each of the original names have survived, resulting in modern surnames such as Drummond, Dryland, Dreiland and Driland. In the US, the surnames Dreyer, Dryer, Dryers, Dreier, Dreyer, Trayer and Trayner are all primarily a variation of the Dryander name.
Since the 15th century, the Dryander name has spread throughout the English-speaking world. Present day American communities who are descendants of a Dryander ancestor are still found and many new variants of the name exist. Examples include Dreyer, Freeer and Freeers.
Overall, the origins of the Dryander family name can be traced back to the Old Norse-Icelandic name “Dreiðandi”, with the most common variants now being “Dreyer”, “Dryer”, “Dryers”, “Drummond”, “Dryland”, “Dreiland”, “Driland”, “Dreier”, “Dreyer”, “Trayer”, “Trayner” and “Freeer” “Freeers”.
Famous people with the name Dryander
- Craig Dryander: an Australian artist and printer who is known for his woodcut prints.
- Magdalena Dryander: a Swedish retailer of medical instruments associated with the Swedish East India Company.
- Henry Dryander: a Swedish botanist.
- Markus Dryander: a Swedish clergyman and actor.
- Lars Dryander: a Swedish writer and actor.
- Martha Dryander: a Swedish fashion designer.
- Anders Gustaf Dryander: a Swedish botanist.
- Kristina Dryander: a Swedish singer.
- Lars-Inge Dryander: a Swedish artist.
- Karin Dryander: a Swedish artist.