Explore the Family Name Dreyer
The meaning of Dreyer
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname derived from German drei ‘three’, Middle High German drī(e), with the addition of the suffix -er. This was the name of a medieval coin worth three hellers (see Heller), and it is possible that the German surname may have been derived from this word. More probably, the nickname is derived from some other connection with the number three, too anecdotal to be even guessed at now. 2. North German and Scandinavian: occupational name for a turner of wood or bone, from an agent derivative of Middle Low German dreien, dregen ‘to turn’. See also Dressler. 3. Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name from Yiddish dreyer ‘turner’, or a nickname from a homonym meaning ‘swindler, cheat’. 4. English: variant of Dryer. Some characteristic forenames: German Hans, Erwin, Fritz, Johannes, Kurt, Baerbel, Bernhard, Christoph, Claus, Dieter, Ernst, Hedwig.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Dreyer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Dreyer has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname dropped by 5.14% from 4922 in 2000 to 5175 in 2010. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 2.93%, from 6559 in 2000 to 6751 by 2010. The proportion per 100k also experienced a decline of 5.76%, suggesting that although the count has increased, it did not keep pace with the overall population growth.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,922 | #5,175 | -5.14% |
| Count | 6,559 | 6,751 | 2.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.43 | 2.29 | -5.76% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Dreyer
In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some interesting shifts. While the majority of those with the surname Dreyer identified as White (94.68% in 2010, down from 96.78% in 2000), there were notable increases in other categories. There was an 85% increase in those identifying as Hispanic, moving from 1.20% in 2000 to 2.22% in 2010. Additionally, those identifying as Black increased by 276.47%, albeit from a small base, rising from 0.17% in 2000 to 0.64% in 2010. The Asian/Pacific Islander category saw a 50.85% increase while American Indian and Alaskan Native rose by 50%. Individuals identifying with two or more races also saw a slight increase of 20.20% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.78% | 94.68% | -2.17% |
| Hispanic | 1.2% | 2.22% | 85% |
| Two or More Races | 0.99% | 1.19% | 20.2% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.59% | 0.89% | 50.85% |
| Black | 0.17% | 0.64% | 276.47% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.26% | 0.39% | 50% |
Dreyer ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Dreyer is French & German, which comprises 36.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (31.3%) and Scandinavian (9.4%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Filipino & Austronesian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 36.8% |
| British & Irish | 31.3% |
| Scandinavian | 9.4% |
| Other | 22.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Dreyer
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Dreyer have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 71.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 71.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 71.20% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 71.20% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 71.20% |
What Dreyer haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Dreyer is R-L48, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L48 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and I-L22, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: North, Wheatley, Schumacher, Blackwell, Rhodes, Browne, Jansen, George, Chappell, Cowley.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Dreyer surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Dreyer have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Dreyer" Surname 40.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Dreyer" Surname 34.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Dreyer" Surname 19.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Dreyer" Surname 16.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Dreyer?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Dreyer are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition