Find out how popular the last name DeFreece is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named DeFreece.

DeFreece, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the DeFreece surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeFreece in America

DeFreece is the 51066th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeFreece surname appeared 408 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname DeFreece.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeFreece to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name DeFreece

The surname DEFREECE is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the northern region of Normandy. Its earliest recorded form dates back to the 11th century, when it was spelled as "De Friese" or "De Frese." This name is derived from the Old French words "de" meaning "from" and "Frise" or "Frese," referring to the region of Friesland, located in the modern-day Netherlands.

The name likely originated as a descriptive surname, identifying individuals who had migrated or originated from the Frisian region. During medieval times, it was common practice to assign surnames based on geographical locations, trade occupations, or distinctive physical traits. The name DEFREECE may have been given to individuals who had moved from Friesland to Normandy or other parts of France.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "De Frese," referring to a landowner or tenant in the region of Normandy.

Throughout the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including DeFreece, DeFriese, and DeFrese. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the evolution of language over time.

Notable individuals bearing the surname DEFREECE throughout history include:

1. Sir John DeFreece (c. 1290 - 1357), a prominent English knight who fought alongside Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.
2. Guillaume DeFreece (1485 - 1542), a French explorer and cartographer known for his detailed maps of the Caribbean region.
3. Marie DeFreece (1602 - 1678), a French writer and philosopher who contributed to the intellectual discourse of the 17th century.
4. Robert DeFreece (1720 - 1803), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.
5. Émile DeFreece (1856 - 1921), a renowned French painter and sculptor known for his Impressionist landscapes and portraits.

While the surname DEFREECE has its roots in France and the Frisian region, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora. The name continues to carry a rich historical legacy, reflecting the diverse cultural influences that have shaped its origins and evolution over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeFreece

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname DeFreece.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for DeFreece was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of DeFreece has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name DeFreece was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of DeFreece, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!