Friesen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Friesen is name that may have a few different sources. In some instances it is derived from the name of the region of Friesland, and would refer to someone who came from that region. Friesland is located on the coast of the North Sea, and stretches from the Netherlands in the east to Denmark in the north. In the Swabian-Swiss dialects, the word "friesen" means "to dig ditches," and the name may have derived from the occupation of its original bearer.
Early Origins of the Friesen family
The surname Friesen was first found in Switzerland, where the name was an integral part of the feudal society which would shape modern European history. Many prominent branches of the family would strive to make this name renowned as they contributed to the social, economic and political affairs of the region.
Early History of the Friesen family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Friesen research. Another 409 words (29 lines of text) covering the years 1409, 1578, 1592, 1653, 1702, 1703, 1705, 1752, 1757, 1763, 1783, 1785 and 1825 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: Friesen, Fries, Friese, Freese, Frees, Freesen, Frehse, Frese, Fresen, Fresenius (Latin), Frieser, Friess, Friesse and many more.
Early Notables of the Friesen family
Notables of the time with the surname Friesen were
- Julius Heinrich von Friesen, the general-fieldmarshal and Commandant of Landau, who was famous for his brave defense of Fort Landau in 1703 and for his capture of Fort Drusenheim from the French army...
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
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.)
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
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 30) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html