Frenz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The surname Frenz is a ancient German name that originated in the Rhineland. While the Germans at first used only one name, population increases created confusion among people of the same name, forcing them to adopt hereditary surnames. Two common types of German names are patronymic names, taken from the given name of the father, and metronymic names, taken from the name of the mother. Frenz was derived from the baptismal name for the son of Franciscus. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, theChristian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint. This was the case with the surname Frenz.

Early Origins of the Frenz family

The surname Frenz was first found in the Rhineland, where the family emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Frenz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frenz research. Another 194 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1713, 1780, 1815, 1827 and 1892 are included under the topic Early Frenz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frenz Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Frenz include Franz, Frantz, Frants, Frannz, Franntz, Frannts, Frantzen, Fraenzel, Frenzel, Frentz, Frenz and many more.

Early Notables of the Frenz family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Frenz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frenz migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Frenz were among of the early German families that came to North America:

Frenz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dorothea Frenz, who landed in America in 1839 1
William Frenz, aged 24, who landed in Missouri in 1844 1
Christoph Frenz, aged 33, who landed in Missouri in 1848 1
David Frenz, aged 39, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 1
Louise Frenz, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1850 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Frenz (post 1700) +

Ronald Wade Frenz (b. 1960), American comic book artist
Uwe Frenz (b. 1969), German judoka

Citations +

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)