Surname Frederiksen - Meaning and Origin

Frederiksen: What does the surname Frederiksen mean?

The last name Frederiksen is of Danish origin, most likely derived from the personal name Frederik, which in turn was derived from the Old German name Frithurik, composed of the elements frith (which means protection or safety) and ric (which means power ruler). Frederik was a popular name among royalty in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages.

As a surname, Frederiksen likely originated as a patronymic—a name based on the name of one's father or ancestor. Thus, someone whose father's name was Frederik would be known as Frederiksen, which means “son of Frederik”.

The Frederiksen surname is common in Denmark but also found in Norway and Sweden. It is widely distributed throughout Europe and the United States. Immigrants bearing the Frederiksen surname likely arrived in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, individuals with this surname have spread across the country.

Today, the Frederiksen surname is kept alive by families who continue to prize its uniqueness and the important history behind it. Whether based in Denmark, the United States, or elsewhere, the Frederiksen surname is a widely recognized sign of Danish heritage.

Frederiksen: Where does the name Frederiksen come from?

The surname Frederiksen is most commonly found in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark, where it is one of the most popular surnames. Other countries with significant populations of people bearing the Frederiksen surname include Norway, Sweden, the United States, and Canada. It is thought to have derived from the Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in the mid-1700s.

In terms of distribution in the United States, the approximate breakdown is as follows: California - 25%, New York - 13%, and Maine, Michigan, Utah, and Massachusetts - all combined for 13%. In terms of states with the highest number of Forbesons, California ranks number one with 7,805 people named Frederiksen, followed by Washington with 1,483, and Oregon with 1,312.

Outside of those areas, the Frederiksen family is also found in many countries throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Guam, India, Italy, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that there is a large population of people with the Frederiksen surname in the United States, estimated to be upwards of 40,000 people. It has become increasingly more popular in the last few decades, particularly in coastal towns in California, and in major cities like New York, where there are swathes of Frederiksen descendants living. So if you're looking to trace your ancestors, you're likely to find them among the many Frederiksen descendants living in the United States.

Variations of the surname Frederiksen

The surname Frederiksen is a patronymic based on the given name Fredrik, which is derived from the Germanic elements “frid” (peace) and “ric” (ruler, mighty). This surname is most common in the Scandinavian countries as well as Estonia. There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Frederiksen.

Variants of this surname include Frederixon, Friedrichsen, Frederichsen, Fredrichsen, Freriksen, Fredricson, Fredriceson,Fredrickesen and Friedrichson. Common spellings include Fredrickson, Fredericksen, Frederickson and Frederiksen. Surnames of the same origin include Freyrikson, Freyrickson, Freyricson, Friderician, Fredriksdotter and Fredrikstad.

Variants of this surname are also used in other countries, further differences in spelling and pronunciation may occur due to language and cultural changes within these countries. In Germany, Frederiksen is spelled as Friedrichsen and is found mostly in Northern Germany.

In Estonia, Frederiksen is spelled and pronounced as Freriksen and is the most common spelling in the country. In the United States, it is often spelled Frederickson or Fredericksohn. Canada has its own versions of Frederiksen: Frederien, Fredrigan and Fredreau are all common variants.

Surnames of the same origin can be found in different countries as well. In Denmark, Frederiksen is often known as the surname Freyrikson. In Sweden, Fredriksson is often the surname of choice. In Norway, Frerikstad is the most common spelling.

Despite the different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin, these all remain part of the same family heritage and often still trace back to the same origin.

Famous people with the name Frederiksen

• Peter Frederiksen: A Danish criminal and former veterinary nurse who was accused of murdering 20 women.
• Helena Frederiksen: A former Australian professional athlete who specialized in middle-distance and cross-country running events.
• Hinrika Frederiksen: A former Icelandic alpine skier who competed in three Winter Olympics.
• Christian Frederiksen: A retired Danish footballer who played as a goalkeeper and represented the national team at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
• Ivan Frederiksen: A former Australian professional wrestler best known for his time with WCW.
• Bjørn Frederiksen: A Danish jazz trumpeter who has released numerous albums and collaborated with many renowned jazz musicians.
• Thorvald Frederiksen: A Danish cross-country skier who competed in three Winter Olympics.
• Steffen Frederiksen: A Danish actor who has appeared in films such as Valhalla Rising and Idioterne.
• Andrew Frederiksen: An American musician and producer who has produced many records for major labels and worked with many well known recording artists.
• Susanna Frederiksen: A Norwegian international football player who currently plays for Kolbotn in the 1. divisjon.

Other surnames

FrederikFrederiks