Dryfus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The history of the Dryfus family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Dryfus 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. Dryfus 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. Dryfus 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 Dryfus family was a powerful and prestigious landholder family. In the Middle Ages, when Bavaria was characterized by feudalism, knighthood, and heroic battles, the Dryfus 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 Dryfus family

The surname Dryfus 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 Dryfus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dryfus research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1859, 1872 and 1935 are included under the topic Early Dryfus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dryfus Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Dryfus include Dreyfuss, Dreyfus, Dreifuss, Drayfuss, Dreifus, Dreyfous, Driefus, Drifuss, Dryfuss and many more.

Early Notables of the Dryfus family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dryfus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dryfus migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Dryfus surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Dryfus Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Barnard Dryfus, who settled in Philadelphia in 1841
Nathan Dryfus, who arrived in Arkansas in 1896 1

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)