Show ContentsFriesen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Friesen family

The surname Friesen was first found in Languedoc, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Friesen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Friesen research. Another 397 words (28 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1250, 1296, 1313, 1319, 1409, 1562, 1576, 1600, 1700 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Friesen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Friesen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Yzarn, Ysarn, Izarn, Yzarne, Izarne, Esarn, Eyzarn, Essarn, Isarne, Freissinet, Friesen, Frayssinet and many more.

Early Notables of the Friesen family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Friesen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Friesen Ranking

In the United States, the name Friesen is the 6,867th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Friesen is ranked the 137th most popular surname with an estimated 23,852 people with that name. 2


United States Friesen migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Friesen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Win Friesen, who landed in Virginia in 1662 3
  • William Friesen, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 3
Friesen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Gorit Friesen, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1795 3
Friesen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jacob Friesen, who settled in Philadelphia in 1803
  • Agent Friesen, aged 16, who arrived in New York, NY in 1873 3
  • Claus Friesen, aged 15, who landed in New York, NY in 1874 3
  • Gerhardt Friesen, aged 4, who arrived in New York, NY in 1874 3
  • lsaak Friesen, aged 40, who landed in New York, NY in 1874 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Friesen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Friesen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Abraham Friesen, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
  • Bernhard Friesen, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
  • Cornelius Friesen, who landed in Manitoba in 1874
  • Aaron Friesen, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
  • Esbrand Friesen, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Friesen (post 1700) +

  • Wilmer J. Friesen, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Presidential Elector for Kansas, 1972 4
  • Samille Diane Friesen (b. 1937), birth name of Dyan Cannon, the American film and television actress, director, screenwriter, editor, and producer
  • Steve Friesen (b. 1977), American PGA professional golfer
  • Eugene Friesen (b. 1952), American cellist and composer
  • David Friesen (b. 1942), American jazz bassist and brother of actress Dyan Cannon
  • Henry George Friesen CC, OM, FRSC (b. 1934), Canadian endocrinologist
  • Benno Friesen (b. 1929), Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons
  • Karl Friesen (b. 1958), retired Canadian NHL ice hockey goaltender
  • Jeff Daryl Friesen (b. 1976), Canadian professional ice hockey player


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 30) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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