Surname Frees - Meaning and Origin
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Frees: What does the surname Frees mean?
The last name Frees is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German word meaning “free.” It has various spellings, including Freeze, Frese, Freese, and Fries. It is believed to have multiple origins, including from the personal name ‘Friedrich.'
In many German-speaking countries, people with this name or some of its variants are said to have originally been freed servants or slaves, denoting a sense of liberty they must have felt from that emancipation. In early documented records, “free” indicated a person of higher rank - a noble or gentry - indicating that the surname has also been used to denote certain levels of social standing or prestige.
The variant "Fries” is a separate spelling, and carries a different meaning and origin. This version of the surname is derived from the Dutch and Frisian region of the Netherlands, where it was used as a nickname for someone who was considered to be “daring” or “brave.”
In the United States, the name Frees is generally found among the many descendants of German settlers who arrived during the 1700s and 1800s. Today, the surname is spread throughout the United States, but is particularly common in Pennsylvania and other states with large German-speaking populations.
Order DNA origin analysisFrees: Where does the name Frees come from?
The last name Frees is an uncommon surname that is mainly found in North America, specifically in the United States. The United States is the country with the highest population of people with the last name Frees.
The name can be found in various parts of the United States but is most commonly found in the Midwest and Northeastern states. Within the Midwest, the highest population numbers for the surname Frees can be found in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. While within the Northeastern states, the highest numbers are concentrated in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio.
Outside of North America, the surname Frees can be found in smaller numbers in Europe, especially in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Russia.
The last name Frees could have originated from an old German or Dutch term for "free" or "liberty". The name may also have derived from a location name such as Frenes in France or Frees in England.
Overall, the last name Frees is not common worldwide, but still has a presence in some parts of North America and Europe.
Variations of the surname Frees
Frees is a surname that has various spellings and variants throughout the world. The spelling of Frees can vary between Freese, Freyes, Freeze, and Freese. These spelling variations can appear in both English and German variants of the surname.
The origin of the Frees name can be traced back to Germany, where the people of this surname may spell their name Freeze, Frees, Freese, or Freyes. They were likely named after one of the many places in Germany named Freystadt or Freyesdorf. In addition, the earliest documentation of the Frees surname dates back to the 15th century in Bavaria, Germany.
The surname Frees is also found in other countries, such as the United States, Venezuela, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It is an English variant of Freeze and Freese, German surnames commonly found in the Low Countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
The people of this surname can also spell their name Friess or Fries. It is a German and Dutch variant of Frees. The name is often spelled 'Fries' in English countries, while the Dutch version is 'Friess.'
In addition, there is a Yiddish variant of the Frees surname, which is spelled as Fress or Fries. Fress is a contraction of the German and Yiddish word "freis," which means joy. As such, the people who carry this surname may be indicating an origin from the Jewish culture.
In conclusion, Frees is a surname with a variety of spelling variations, including Freese, Freeze, Freyes, Friess, Fries, and Fress, and is mainly connected to the German and Jewish cultures.
Famous people with the name Frees
- Paul Frees: An American voice actor.
- Clarence Eugene Freas: A retired US Air Force pilot and educator.
- Bram Tchaikovsky: An English singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the power pop band, Bram Tchaikovsky & The Motors.
- David Freese: An American former professional baseball player.
- Russell Frees: An American voice actor who had a very long career in film and television.
- Simon Freese: A German former professional football player.
- Laura Frees: An American actor, voice actress, and singer.
- Raymond Frees: An American actor who had a long and varied career in films and television.
- Frank Frees: An American actor who appeared in over 400 movies and television shows.
- Hans-Joachim Freese: A German comic book artist and illustrator.