Surname Dreiers - Meaning and Origin

Dreiers: What does the surname Dreiers mean?

The last name Dreiers is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "dreier" which translates to mean "three". It is possible that the name was originally a nickname for someone who was third born in their family, or for someone particularly skilled at a certain activity that was carried out in three parts such as a dance, a procession or athletic competitions.

Alternately, the Dreiers name may be derived from the Old High German word “drî” which translates to mean "forest". This could refer to individuals living or working in a wooded area, or it could refer to a former occupation such as logging or hunting.

The Dreiers surname is found primarily in Germany and Switzerland, but it has also spread to other countries including the United States, Canada and Australia. In 1880, 1.8% of the population of Germany had this surname, and it is likely that it was brought to the United States by German immigrants in the 1800s.

In modern times, the Dreiers surname continues to be popular. Research on genetic markers has found that people with the last name Dreiers have a common haplogroup originating in northern Europe, most likely in Germany. This could indicate that the Dreier surname is still quite widespread across the world today.

Dreiers: Where does the name Dreiers come from?

The last name Dreiers is most commonly found in Germany, and to a lesser extent in countries with strong German influences like Switzerland and Austria. In Germany, records indicate that the name is primarily located in the states of North Rhine Westphalia and Lower Saxony, which border each other in the north of the country.

In the United States, the last name is found in most states, but predominantly in the Midwest and Southeast, where the German influence is historically strong. It is estimated that over 5,000 people carry the last name in the United States.

Outside of Europe and North America, the last name is not as common. In Asia, Dreier is mainly found in China, particularly in Shanghai. In South America, it is most prominent in Brazil and Argentina, where the German influence is strong.

The most famous bearer of the name Dreiers is probably Swiss actor, director, and screenwriter Kurt Dreier. The family has produced a number of notable figures throughout its history, including surgeons, professors, priests, and authors.

Variations of the surname Dreiers

The surname Dreiers is often spelled Dreer, Dreir, Dreyer, Dreyer, Draier, and Draeyr. This surname is of Germanic and Dutch origin, with contradictory sources tracing the same surname to either Holland or northern Germany. It is also a habitational name, derived from places named Dreier in northern Germany, with Dreier meaning “three people” in German.

Dreiers is a patronymic name meaning “son of Dreier”, and individuals with this surname often had parents of the family name Dreier. Patronymics are names derived from the father’s given name rather than the family name and are oldest names in some European countries.

Variant spellings of this surname include Dreier, Dreer, Dreær, Dreyer, Drayer, Draier, Dreyr, Dreiyr, Dreyer, Dreier, Dreiher, Drejer, Dreiör, Dreiur, Dreiue, Dreiuer, Dreyuer, Dreiuer, Dreiwer, Dreyeer, Dreyr, Dryer, Drir, Traair, Traer, Trayer, and Trair.

Some families with the surname Dreiers are members of the German minority in Belarus/Russia. This minority is composed of descendants of Germans in Russia from the 18th and 19th centuries and many families obtained the surname Dreiers from the adoption of a patronymic name when they emigrated.

There is also the variants Dreis, Dreiss, and Dreisser. These surnames were likely derived from a shortening of the name Dreiers, or they may have been derived from a name similar to Dreiers.

Variations of the name Dreiers are found all over the world, due to many families with the surname emigrating to different countries, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Famous people with the name Dreiers

• Christoph Dreier: a former investment banker who was convicted for his role in a multi-million dollar insider trading scheme
• Jim Dreier: a former executive producer for Cartoon Network
• Thomas F. Dreier: a former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin
• Christine E. Dreier: a Wisconsin State Assemblywoman
• Don R. Dreier: an American painter and musician
• Donald B. Dreier: a former American diplomat and politician
• James C. Dreier: a former Wisconsin state senator
• Lili Dreier: a former American television presenter
• Michael S. Dreier: an American lawyer and politician
• Peter Dreier: an American professor of Politics at Occidental College

Other surnames

Dreier