Frei Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Frei last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Frei last name
Meaning of the Frei last name: "free man". Frei is a German surname for a free man, not bound to serve a lord, from Middle High German vrī, "free". It may also be a nickname for a bold person. The last name is one of the most common in Switzerland, especially in Aargau and Zurich.
Arms associated with the Frei name
In German towns craftsmen used coats of arms too, and heraldry associated with Frei grew in that world.
Get your full Frei family history
This is only a glimpse of the Frei story. The full Frei history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Frei coat of arms. Get the full Frei report.
Frei name FAQ
What does the Frei name mean?
"free man". Common variants include Frey, Fry.
Where does the Frei surname come from?
It originates in Switzerland, and is also found in Germany, Austria and the United States.
Is there a Frei coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Frei coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).