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![Show Contents]() Dreifus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany Israel
The history of the Dreifus family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Dreifus is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Dreifus is a name for a man who had to use a crutch. The surname, which was originally derived from the German word drivuoss, which means a tripod or a cooking pot with three legs, was also applied to a person who "stands for" everything or was tolerant. Dreifus is also a Jewish local surname that was originally derived from the town of Trier on the Moselle, known in French as Treves. Both the French and the German name come from the Latin Augusta Treverorum, or the City of Augustus among the Treveri. In Bavaria, the Dreifus family was a powerful and prestigious landholder family. In the Middle Ages, when Bavaria was characterized by feudalism, knighthood, and heroic battles, the Dreifus family resided on a feudal estate and enjoyed the splendors of the feudal courts. Moreover, the family played an instrumental role in the development of Bavarian political and economic affairs. Early Origins of the Dreifus familyThe surname Dreifus was first found in Augsburg, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Early History of the Dreifus familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dreifus research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1859, 1872 and 1935 are included under the topic Early Dreifus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Dreifus Spelling VariationsMany 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 Dreifus include Dreyfuss, Dreyfus, Dreifuss, Drayfuss, Dreifus, Dreyfous, Driefus, Drifuss, Dryfuss and many more. Early Notables of the Dreifus familyAnother 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dreifus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Dreifus familyBetween the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Dreifus or a variant listed above: Abraham Dryfoos, who settled in Philadelphia in 1860; Joseph Dryfoos settled in Philadelphia in 1860; Barnard Dryfus settled in Philadelphia in 1841; Samuel Dryfuss settled in Philadelphia in 1840..
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