Fretz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

The distinguished and ancient surname Fretz 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.

Early Origins of the Fretz family

The surname Fretz was first found in the Rhineland, where the name is thought to have emerged. The young Fretz 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.

Important Dates for the Fretz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fretz research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1354, 1473, 1868 and 1941 are included under the topic Early Fretz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fretz Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fretz, Fretzer, Freter, Vretz, Vretzer, Vreter and others.

Early Notables of the Fretz family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Fretz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fretz migration to the United States

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fretz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Math Fretz, aged 39, who arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Noordland" from Antwerp, Belgium ^[1]
Theod Fretz, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Pennland" from Antwerp, Belgium ^[2]
Ludwig Fretz, aged 11, who arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Pennland" from Antwerp, Belgium ^[3]
Catharina Fretz, aged 7, who arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Pennland" from Antwerp, Belgium ^[4]
Heinrich Fretz, aged 5, who arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Pennland" from Antwerp, Belgium ^[5]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fretz Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Paul Fretz, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1919 from Rotterdam, Netherlands ^[6]
Jean Fretz, aged 23, originally from Aarau, Switzerland, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Rotterdam" from Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France ^[7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Fretz (post 1700)

Jacob Millard Fretz (1913-1999), American college football coach for the Bethel Threshers
Tory Ann Fretz (b. 1942), American amateur and professional tennis player in the 1950s and 1960s, ranked in the U.S. top ten from 1963 to 1966
William H. Fretz, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, 1905-14 ^[8]
M. B. Fretz, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1912 ^[8]
John H. Fretz, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1912 ^[8]
Joachim Fretz (1926-1994), German radio personality
Claude Girven "Girve" Fretz (b. 1927), Canadian politician, Member of Parliament for Erie (1979-1993)
Dr. Betty Fretz, Canadian optometrist and a member of the National Eye Research Foundation

Citations

^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6PH-72R : 6 December 2014), Math Fretz, 02 Mar 1892; citing departure port Antwerp, arrival port New York, ship name Noordland, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J65H-KNR : 6 December 2014), Theod Fretz, 24 May 1892; citing departure port Antwerp, arrival port New York, ship name Pennland, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J65H-KNT : 6 December 2014), Ludwig Fretz, 24 May 1892; citing departure port Antwerp, arrival port New York, ship name Pennland, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J65H-KNY : 6 December 2014), Catharina Fretz, 24 May 1892; citing departure port Antwerp, arrival port New York, ship name Pennland, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J65H-KNB : 6 December 2014), Heinrich Fretz, 24 May 1892; citing departure port Antwerp, arrival port New York, ship name Pennland, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6QS-QJX : 6 December 2014), Paul Fretz, 13 Dec 1919; citing departure port Rotterdam, arrival port New York, ship name , NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
^ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6D1-HZ2 : 6 December 2014), Jean Fretz, 30 May 1920; citing departure port Boulogne-Sur-Mer, arrival port New York, ship name Rotterdam, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html