Explore the Family Name Fries
The meaning of Fries
1. German, Dutch, Jewish (from the Netherlands), Danish, and Swedish: ethnic name for someone from Friesland, province in the Netherlands and a region in northwestern Germany, in the Middle Ages part of the larger northwest region Fresia. This form of the surname is rare in the Netherlands but very common in Germany. Compare De Fries and De Vries. 2. German, Dutch, Danish, and Swedish: from the personal name Friso, which refers to the ethnic name (see 1 above). 3. South German: occupational name for a builder of dams and dikes. The word was used in this sense in various parts of Germany and Switzerland during the Middle Ages, and is perhaps a transferred use of the ethnic term, dike building being a characteristic occupation of Frieslanders.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fries in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Fries" has seen a slight decline in rank from 3913 in 2000 to 4150 in 2010. This represents a decrease of approximately 6.06 percent. However, the count of individuals bearing this surname increased by about 2.19 percent, rising from 8357 in 2000 to 8540 in 2010. The proportion per 100k people also saw a decrease of 6.45 percent during the same period, dropping from 3.1 to 2.9.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,913 | #4,150 | -6.06% |
| Count | 8,357 | 8,540 | 2.19% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.1 | 2.9 | -6.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fries
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides valuable insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Fries". In 2000, the majority of individuals with this surname identified as white (96.10 percent), which slightly dropped to 94.04 percent by 2010. Hispanic representation within this surname group saw the most significant growth, increasing by 87.59 percent from 1.45 percent in 2000 to 2.72 percent in 2010. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and two or more races also saw considerable growths at 42.55 and 70.27 percent respectively. Conversely, the percentage of those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased by 16.67 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.1% | 94.04% | -2.14% |
| Hispanic | 1.45% | 2.72% | 87.59% |
| Two or More Races | 0.74% | 1.26% | 70.27% |
| Black | 0.95% | 1.07% | 12.63% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.47% | 0.67% | 42.55% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.3% | 0.25% | -16.67% |
Fries 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 Fries is French & German, which comprises 41.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (33.6%) and Eastern European (6.4%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Indigenous American.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 41.9% |
| British & Irish | 33.6% |
| Eastern European | 6.4% |
| Other | 18.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Fries
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 Fries have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 76.30% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 76.30% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 75.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 75.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 75.80% |
What Fries 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 Fries is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include E-V13 and I-Z58, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Schreiner, Ernst, Blackburn, Brooker, Keller, Acevedo, Schaaf, Costa, Rinehart, Hubbard.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Fries surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your 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 Fries 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.
"Fries" Surname 40.7%
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.
"Fries" Surname 30.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Fries" Surname 25.0%
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.
"Fries" Surname 22.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Fries?
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 Fries are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition