Surname Drais - Meaning and Origin
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Drais: What does the surname Drais mean?
The last name Drais is of German origin. It is derived from either a German place name or from a personal name derived from the Old German “drag”, meaning “to carry” or “to drag”. This surname would have been given to an individual who was noted for their strength in carrying and dragging heavy loads.
The first recorded reference to the surname digitally dates back to 1709, when Johannes Draise, a solider from Sindelfingen, Germany, was listed in a military record.
During the 19th century, individuals with the last name Drais immigrated to America from German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States records, the spelling appeared with a variety of forms, such as Draise, Draiss, Draise, and Drais.
Today, those with the Drais surname reside mainly in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Different branches of this surname can also be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, as well as several other countries.
The Drais surname is a proud surname, with those who have it reflecting the strength of their ancestors in the carrying and dragging of heavy loads. Even today, this surname can be found in many parts of the world, standing as a testament to the commitment and hard work of those who first bore it.
Order DNA origin analysisDrais: Where does the name Drais come from?
The last name Drais is most commonly found in Germany today. According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, the last name Drais is especially common in the Rheinland-Pfalz region in the west of the country.
The origin of the last name Drais is likely German or Dutch. In Germany, people traditionally adopted a last name based on where they were from or what they did for a living. In this case, the last name Drais could come from an area named Drais, a profession such as a draisine maker (a wheeled vehicle similar to a bicycle), or a location that still exists today.
Despite being most common in Germany, the last name Drais can be found around the world. There are records of people carrying the last name Drais in the United States, Canada, France, Russia, and even as far as South Africa.
Though the last name Drais is not especially common anywhere in the world, it still carries a long heritage. Those with the last name Drais can rest assured that their name will be remembered for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Drais
The Drais surname is an adaptation of Dreyse (from the Germanic word draeg meaning 'hunter') and Draisse (from the Old French drais 'rider'). As the spelling has changed over the years, there are a variety of variants of the Drais name, including Draise, Draes, Dres, Dreis, and Dreisz.
Drais is also spelled Druise in some places, as it was recorded in Germany, England, and Scotland. In England, the spelling was recorded as Draise, Drace, and Drice, among others. The Dublin registrars record the surname Driss, while the rest of Ireland records the spelling Druiz, Druise, and Draise.
There are over 120 variations of the Drais surname. Some of the alternate forms are Dreis, Dres, Driess, Dreise, Draeise, Dreysee, Dreise, Dreisz, Dreitzer, Dresz, Dreiss, Driss, Dreese, Drace, and Dreesz. The Russian surname Dreyse and the Scottish surname Druise both share the same origin with the Drais surname.
Sometimes, the Drais surname is also spelled as Draisey, Deterle, Draizin, Drish, and Drezer.
In addition to the Drais surname, there are surnames with the same origin, such as Dreves, Draesche, Draesner, Drehmer, Dreese, Draese, Dreher, Drehmer, Dreis, and Zdreizig. These variants originated as nicknames or descriptors of physical characteristics from family members.
The Drais surname can also be found in various surname index. The Ancestry.com surname index has entries for over 100 surnames related to Drais, ranging from Drehmer to Dreisz, Draesche to Dreyse, and Dreese to Drezer. The original spelling was Dreise.
Famous people with the name Drais
- Karl Drais: A 19th century inventor of the world's first 'vehicle' commonly known as the Draisine or 'Laufmaschine' (translated as 'running machine').
- Heywood Drais: A modern American stuntman and actor who has performed in movies like "Matrix Reloaded" and "X-Men: The Last Stand."
- Lucien Drais: A French dancer and choreographer who has performed all over the world and is known for his innovative style of dance.
- Charlie Drais: A professional hockey player and captain who has played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres.
- Axl Drais: His full stage name is Axl Drais Von Slaschmann and is a frontman and founder of the industrial rock band Life Cried.
- Jasper Drais: A Dutch contemporary artist who has exhibited his work in spaces throughout Europe, the USA, and Asia.
- Sidonie Drais: She is a famous French fashion designer who is credited with her own line of handcrafted couture garments that are said to embody the spirit of French fashion.
- Emmanuel Drais: He is a French painter and sculptor known for his eclectic and bold use of color and line in his works.
- Marie Drais: An opera singer well known in Southeast Asia for her vibrant performances.
- Antoine Drais: A modern French actor best known for his roles in films "The Host" and "Dogville."