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| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
The distinguished and ancient surname Vretz is derived from the Middle High German verb "vretzen," which literally means "to make to eat." The progenitor of this name was likely a servant or a kitchen worker. Alternatively, the name may be related to the Low German "freter," meaning "eater, glutton;" in this case, the name would have been initially bestowed as a nickname on someone with an unusual appetite.
The surname Vretz was first found in the Rhineland, where the name is thought to have emerged. The young Vretz family was instrumental during this formative period, playing a major role in the early history of the region and contributing greatly to the development of the medieval society of the Rhineland.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vretz research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1354, 1473, 1868 and 1941 are included under the topic Early Vretz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Fretz, Fretzer, Freter, Vretz, Vretzer, Vreter and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Vretz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Ludwig Fretz, who settled in Philadelphia in 1753; Jacob Fretz, who was living in New York in 1761; John Fretz, who arrived in San Francisco in 1850; Wenzel Fretz, who sailed from Bremen to New York in 1857.