Show ContentsFreese History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Freese is name that may have a few different sources. In some instances it is derived from the name of the region of Friesland, and would refer to someone who came from that region. Friesland is located on the coast of the North Sea, and stretches from the Netherlands in the east to Denmark in the north. In the Swabian-Swiss dialects, the word "friesen" means "to dig ditches," and the name may have derived from the occupation of its original bearer.

Early Origins of the Freese family

The surname Freese was first found in Switzerland, where the name was an integral part of the feudal society which would shape modern European history. Many prominent branches of the family would strive to make this name renowned as they contributed to the social, economic and political affairs of the region.

Early History of the Freese family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Freese research. Another 409 words (29 lines of text) covering the years 1409, 1578, 1592, 1653, 1702, 1703, 1705, 1752, 1757, 1763, 1783, 1785 and 1825 are included under the topic Early Freese History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freese Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Friesen, Fries, Friese, Freese, Frees, Freesen, Frehse, Frese, Fresen, Fresenius (Latin), Frieser, Friess, Friesse and many more.

Early Notables of the Freese family

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Freese Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freese Ranking

In the United States, the name Freese is the 4,669th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


United States Freese migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Freese Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edward Freese, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 2
  • Peter Freese, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 2
  • Simon Freese, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1761 2
Freese Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John F Freese, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 2
  • Steffen Heinr Freese, who arrived in Ohio in 1832 2
  • Herm Heinr Freese, who landed in America in 1837 2
  • Hermann Heinrick Freese, aged 21, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 2
  • Heinr W Freese, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1843 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Freese Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Berta Freese, aged 11, who landed in America from Hamburg, in 1902
  • Caroline Freese, aged 60, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
  • Catharina Freese, aged 57, who settled in America, in 1904
  • Adele Freese, aged 57, who settled in America from Hamburg, in 1905
  • Anna Freese, aged 27, who landed in America from Schleswig, Germany, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Freese migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Freese Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Freese Sr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Freese (post 1700) +

  • Gene Freese (b. 1934), American professional baseball player
  • Stan Freese (b. 1945), American tuba player
  • Katherine Freese, American theoretical astrophysicist
  • Josh Freese (b. 1972), American session drummer and songwriter
  • Jason Freese (b. 1975), American band musician
  • George Freese (b. 1926), American professional baseball player
  • Jacob Freese, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 2nd District, 1829-31 4
  • Isaac Freese, American politician, Mayor of Bellaire, Ohio, 1900-02 4
  • Irving C. Freese (b. 1903), American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Norwalk, 1946; Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut, 1947-55, 1957-59; Defeated, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1945 4
  • George Freese, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1988 4
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Freese +

  • Freese Families by John Wesley Freese.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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