The name Dietrich originated from the Germanic language branch and can be traced back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old Germanic words "diet" meaning "people" and "rīc" meaning "ruler" or "powerful". The name essentially translates to "mighty among the people" or "powerful leader of the people".

During the Middle Ages, the name gained popularity across various Germanic tribes and regions, including modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Its earliest recorded spelling was "Theodoricus" in Latin texts, which later evolved into "Dietrich" in the German language.

One of the earliest notable figures with the name Dietrich was Theodoric the Great, also known as Dietrich von Bern, a 5th-century king of the Ostrogoths who ruled the Italian Peninsula from 493 to 526 AD. He played a significant role in the transition from ancient Roman to medieval European culture.

Another prominent figure was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident born in 1906. He was actively involved in the German resistance movement against the Nazi regime and was eventually executed in 1945 for his involvement in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

In the realm of literature, Dietrich von der Glezze was a 13th-century German poet and author of the courtly romance "Liet von Troye", which retells the story of the Trojan War. He lived during the height of the Middle High German literature period.

Moving forward in history, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was a renowned German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 17th century and had a significant influence on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.

More recently, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012) was a German lyric baritone and conductor who was widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned for his interpretations of Lieder, the German art song tradition.