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Dreyer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Dreyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The distinguished surname Dreyer is of German origin. The name is derived from the Old Germanic word "Dreier," literally meaning "a group of three," which generally referred to a local committee made up of three people which passed laws for the local townships; it is likely that the progenitor of the name was a member of such a group. Alternatively, the name may be derived from "Dreher," meaning "lathe-hand or turner"; in this instance, the name would have been originally borne by a practitioner of this profession.

Early Origins of the Dreyer family

The surname Dreyer was first found in Bavaria, where the name was closely identified in early medieval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. The origins of the name make it likely that several branches of the family emerged independently during this early period. The first known bearer of the name was L. Dreghere, who lived in Hannover in 1348.

Early History of the Dreyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dreyer research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1610, 1688 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Dreyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dreyer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dreyer, Dreier, Dreigher, Dreger, Dreher, Driggs, Dreiger and many more.

Early Notables of the Dreyer family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dreyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dreyer World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dreyer is the 6,872^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Dreyer is ranked the 4,813^rd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2 And in South Africa, the name Dreyer is the 486^th popular surname with an estimated 14,729 people with that name. 3

Dreyer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dreyer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Anders Christiansson Dreyer, who landed in Delaware in 1641 4

Dreyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Friedrich Dreyer, who landed in America in 1780 4
Heinrich Dreyer, who landed in Long Island in 1781 4
Johann Dreyer, who landed in New York, NY in 1781 4
Conrad Dreyer, who arrived in America in 1783 4
Conrad Heinrich Dreyer, who landed in America in 1783 4

Dreyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christ Jac Dreyer, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 4
Mr. Dreyer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 4
Joh Albert Dreyer, who arrived in America in 1813-1820 4
J H Dreyer, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 4
Konrad Dreyer, who arrived in America in 1832 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dreyer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dreyer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Anne Dreyer, aged 29, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Dreyer (post 1700) +

Pam Dreyer (b. 1981), American ice hockey player
Jim Dreyer (b. 1963), American marathon swimmer
Dekker Dreyer (1889-1968), American director and producer
Günter Dreyer (1943-2019), German Egyptologist at the German Archaeological Institute
Olaf Dreyer, German theoretical physicist
Admiral Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer GBE, KCB (1878-1956), English officer of the Royal Navy, he developed a fire control system for British warships
Carl Theodor Dreyer (1889-1968), Danish filmmaker, best known for his films The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Vampyr (1932), Day of Wrath (1943), Ordet (1955), and Gertrud (1964)
John Dreyer (1852-1926), Danish astronomer, eponym of the Dreyer crater on the Moon

Historic Events for the Dreyer family +

Bismarck

Dietrich Dreyer (1920-1941), German Mar.Artl.Gefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Peter Tuthill Dreyer, British Midshipman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales May 1941 and died at the battle of Denmark Strait, before the sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales 7

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/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)
South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Flora 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/flora1855.shtml
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html