Show ContentsDietrich History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Dietrich surname derives from the Germanic personal name Tederich (Theudoricus), which was composed of the elements "theud," meaning "people," or "race," and "ric," meaning "powerful."

Early Origins of the Dietrich family

The surname Dietrich was first found in Switzerland, where the name Dietrich emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. The popularity of the name can be traced back to the major figure of Theodrich the Great, King of the Goths in the 5th century. 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 Dietrich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dietrich research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1825 and 1855 are included under the topic Early Dietrich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dietrich Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dieterich, Dietrich, Dittrich, Diterich, Deeterich, Dieterick, Diterichs, Diterig and many more.

Early Notables of the Dietrich family

Notables of the time with the surname Dietrich were

  • Joseph von Dietrich (d. 1855), who made his fortune supplying the armies during the French campaigns, and received a Hungarian baronetcy in 1825

Dietrich Ranking

In the United States, the name Dietrich is the 2,314th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Dietrich is ranked the 2,025th most popular surname with an estimated 3,091 people with that name. 2


United States Dietrich migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dietrich Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christian Dietrich, who landed in New York in 1709 3
  • Mrs. Jacob Dietrich, who landed in New York in 1709 3
  • Johann Wilhelm Dietrich, who landed in New York in 1709 3
  • Johann Jacob Dietrich, who landed in New York, NY in 1710 3
  • Anna Eliz Dietrich, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1710 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Dietrich Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Paul Dietrich, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1836 3
  • Franz Dietrich, who settled in Texas in 1836
  • Catharina Dietrich, who landed in Texas in 1840-1850 3
  • Johan G Dietrich, aged 38, who landed in Missouri in 1840 3
  • Henry Dietrich, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Dietrich migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dietrich Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Isaac Dietrich, who landed in Manitoba in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Dietrich (post 1700) +

  • Janet Christine Dietrich (1926-2008), American pilot and aviator, one of the Mercury 13, twin sister of Marion Dietrich
  • Marion Dietrich (1926-1974), American pilot and aviator, one of the Mercury 13, twin sister of Janet Dietrich
  • Dena Dietrich (1928-2020), American actress, best known for her portrayal of Mother Nature in the 30-second Chiffon margarine commercials from 1971 to 1979
  • William Dietrich (b. 1950), American geomorphologist
  • Raymond H. Dietrich, American car body designer of the 1920s-1950s
  • Emory M. Dietrich, American politician, Socialist Workers Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1984 4
  • Clement J. Dietrich, American politician, U.S. Consul in Nantes, 1897 4
  • Clayton A. Dietrich, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Allegheny County 6th District; Elected 1926 4
  • Charles Henry Dietrich (1853-1924), American Republican politician, Governor of Nebraska, 1901; U.S. Senator from Nebraska, 1901-05 4
  • Charles Elmer Dietrich (1889-1942), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 15th District, 1935-37 4
  • ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Dietrich +

  • Dietrich Pleffner Roos Genealogy: Being an Account of the Descendants of John Dietrich and Theresa Metz, Who Immigrated From Bavaria to the United States in 1848 by Robert Ralsey Davenport.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  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 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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