Surname Frerichs - Meaning and Origin

Unlocking My Ancestry: What the iGENEA DNA Test Revealed about My Suriname Frerichs Heritage

The moment I initiated the iGENEA DNA test, it felt as though I had embarked on a unique, historical adventure, traversing time to dig up the roots of my lineage. The Frerichs surname was the instrumental protagonist here, evidently more than just an epithet.

S. Frerichs

Frerichs: What does the surname Frerichs mean?

The last name Frerichs is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the personal name Friedrich, which is made up of two elements: frid, meaning "peace," and ric meaning "power." Frerichs is a patronymic form of the given name and means "descendent of Friedrich." In German culture, such patronymic last names were often used to denote familial heritage and ancestry.

The Frerichs surname has been traced back to the days of the Holy Roman Empire, where it was most commonly found in the region of Lower Saxony and East Friesland. Frerichs was originally a Prussian-German name, but the spelling and pronunciation have changed over time. In modern-day Germany, Frerichs is sometimes spelled as Frerichs.

The last name Frerichs carries a deep sense of honor and nobility. The name represents the proud tradition of the German and Dutch people and the sense of pride and belonging that comes with it. Frerichs families were known for their strength and courage, and the name served as a reminder to behave and act in accordance with their high-minded values. The name Frerichs also carries a rich history and evokes a sense of nostalgia for older generations and a reminder to younger generations of the family's proud heritage.

Frerichs: Where does the name Frerichs come from?

The last name Frerichs is commonly found in Germany. It is especially prevalent in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein. According to OnlineGenealogy.com, a website which tracks surname prevalence, Frerichs is the 799th most common surname in Germany.

Frerichs is also common in the United States, though it is not as widespread here as in Germany. The most prevalently found area for Frerichs in the US is in the midwestern states of Michigan and Wisconsin, especially in areas with large German immigrant populations.

The last name Frerichs is thought to be of Germanic origin, meaning “free” or “dear”. Many have speculated that the name originates from the ancient German forename Frerich. Over time it has become a surname that is now common in many countries around the world.

Most people with the last name Frerichs are likely to be of Germanic descent, though there are certainly people who have adopted the name who trace their ancestry to different countries and ethnic backgrounds. In many cases, Frerichs is adopted as a surname by those of German ancestry, to preserve their family history and identity.

Variations of the surname Frerichs

The surname Frerichs is of German origin and is a patronymic name which derives from the given name Fredrich. It is one of the earliest recorded surnames in Germany and is thought to have derived from the Germanic meaning of ‘peaceful ruler’.

Variations of this surname include Fritsch, Frick, Friedrich, Freericks, Frericks, Frichs, Frieh, Frye, Fryer, Fryers and Sfredrich.

Other spellings of the surname throughout history have ranged from Fraricks to Frrericks to Freriks to Friches and beyond.

Surnames of the same origin include the following variations: Fredrichs, Fridrichs, Fritschs, Freiherr, Friedrichs, Frericksh, Fritzs, Friss, Fritzings, Frists, Frutche and Friess.

Over the generations, the spellings and variants of Frerichs have evolved as they have moved from Germany to America and to other parts of the world. The most common form of the Frerichs surname found in the United States is Frerichs, followed by Fritsch. In certain parts of Germany and the Netherlands, the surname Frieh is very popular and is derived from the patronymic ‘Friedrich’.

The Frerichs surname continues to exist today, especially in parts of Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name Frerichs

• Hans Frerichs (1930-2020): A German basketball coach who served as a youth coach for national and Olympic teams and was part of the German Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Deborah Frerichs (b. 1970): A political scientist, historian, and sustainability expert at the University of Missouri.
• Steven G. Frerichs (b. 1953): An American professor of economics specializing in health care, public finance, and the economics of aging.
• Orin Frerichs (1930-2005): An American anthropologist specializing in Middle Eastern culture and archaeology who served as a professor at Harvard and Tufts universities.
• Sven Frerichs (b. 1983): A German professional football player who has played for clubs such as SV Darmstadt, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and Halmstads BK.
• Esther Frerichs (1901-1989): An American pathologist and pioneering cytopathologist who served as one of the first female professors at the University of California, San Francisco.
• Hildegard Frerichs (1905-1990): A German writer and artist known for her works of nonfiction literature and artwork about the former German Democratic Republic.
• Henry M. Frerichs (1893-1981): An American engineer and inventor who created patents for water slides and flumes, as well as the boat bumper.
• August Frerichs (1819-1885): A German gynecologist and obstetrician who discovered the phenomenon of uterine inertia during labor and described it in one of his many published works.
• Sebastian Frerichs (b. 1990): A German professional football player who currently plays for Dynamo Dresden.

Other surnames

FrerichFrerichmannFrerickFrericks