Surname Vreede - Meaning and Origin
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Vreede: What does the surname Vreede mean?
The last name Vreede is thought to have Dutch origins. The word "vreede" is derived from the Old Dutch word "vrijd" which means Friday, suggesting the name may have referred to someone born on a Friday.
The use of the last name Vreede may go back to the 12th century, when Flemish settlers began to take names associated with the days of the week; this practice was common in the Low Countries and may explain why the last name Vreede is still found mostly in the region today.
In addition to naming people after particular days of the week, the Dutch also began to incorporate occupational names derived from specific activities into surnames, and it's possible that the name Vreede could be derived from the Old Dutch work "vredere" which means "judge". As such, "Vreede" could have been used to denote a person in the judicial system or lawyer.
The name Vreede can also be interpreted as signifying faith and trustworthiness. In the Netherlands, the last name Vreede is seen as a reliable and trustworthy quality, providing evidence that the name likely signifies more than just a reference to a particular day of the week.
Whether the last name Vreede means a reference to a particular day of the week, a person in the judicial system, or a suggestion of trustworthiness and reliability, it's clear that this ancient name is a proud part of Dutch culture and history.
Order DNA origin analysisVreede: Where does the name Vreede come from?
The last name Vreede is commonly found in the Netherlands, as most instances of the name originate there. It is believed to be a patronymic name derived from a male ancestor's first name. Vreede is a Dutch-language variant of the more common surname Friet, and is often found in combination with parts of another surname or with an additional suffix.
Vreede's frequency is highest in the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Gelderland, and Overijssel. It is also a somewhat common surname in cities like The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. The name is less common outside of the Netherlands, though it can still be found in countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany, France, and the United States.
In the US, Vreede is a relatively uncommon surname, with approximately 1,200 people bearing the name. While it is especially found in California, there are also instances of the surname in states like Michigan, Washington, New York, Florida, and Texas. However, the most common location in the US to find a Vreede is in Hudsonville, Michigan, where the surname is especially prominent.
Variations of the surname Vreede
The Vreede surname is of Dutch origin and is also spelled as Vreede, or Vreeden. Other variants can include Vreedewinter, de Vreede, Vreeman, Vreeke, and Vreeken.
Vreede is also a patronymic surname meaning "son of Vreede," a Dutch given name of unspecified origin. Sometimes Vreede is used as an alternate spelling of Vreugde, which means "joy."
Variants of Vreede include Veldhuis, Veldman, Van der Valk, Valkenburg, Van der Vlis, Van der Meer, Van der Zee, Van de Vreede, Van den Heuvel, Teylingen, Van de Ven, Van de Veen, Van der Waal, Van de Water, Van der Wal, Van Elswijk, and Velthuis.
Most surnames of Dutch origin that have the prefix "van" are of noble origin and can denote a person who held a noble title or inherited the status through his father. The suffix "er" means "son of," and can reference either a certain attitude of a person or an occupation. For example, when "er" is included, it can mean that the person was the son of a ferrier or iron-worker.
Regardless of the variations, all these spellings indicate that the owner of the surname is a descendant of the Vreede family. Variations can also develop over time as generations pass and people move to other areas, resulting in a surname becoming anglicized, thus leading to different spellings or variants.
Famous people with the name Vreede
- Meindert Vreede: Dutch rower and philanthropist
- Pieter Vreede: Dutch lawyer and professor
- Jacomina Vreede: Dutch journalist and author
- Ekko Vreede: Dutch actor and comedian
- Willem Vreede: Dutch sailor
- Emeritus Professor Dr. Willem Vreede: Dutch lawyer
- Jan Mozes Vreede: Dutch jurist and legal writer
- Professor Dr. Johannes Jacob Vreede: Dutch physician and author
- Bernard van Vreede: Dutch banker and business leader
- Jan Velthuijzen van Zanten Vreede: Dutch nobleman and civil servant