FREEMAN Origin of surname
FREEMAN
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This Jewish family name is based on values embedded in tradition and history. The Jewish surname Freeman is an English equivalent of the Yiddish Freiman. Frei means "free" in German. Freedom is one of the fundamental principles of Judaism. It is re-asserted year after year at Passover celebrating the Exodus from "the House of Bondage".
In the Diaspora, the term "Free" also had other connotations. In Jewish communities, a 'Free Man' was an unmarried man, a bachelor, which meant that he could be a potential Freier, that is a "suitor". Another meaning of the Yiddish and Hebrew slang word Freier/Fraier is "simpleton/sucker".
The name is also a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives. A number of Jewish family names comprising the word Frei can have connections with several place names. Freiberg, the German for "free mountain", is a town in Saxony (Germany) and the German name of Pribor, central Silesia (Czech Republic), as well as of Swiebodzice, lower Silesia (Poland), also known as Frybork and Freiburg. Freiburg ("free fortress/town") in Breisgau, Baden (Germany) is known to have had Jewish inhabitants since the 12th century and the Swiss town Freiburg (Fribourg) permitted Jews to settle there in the 14th century. Freistadt ("free town") is a town near Linz (Austria); Freistadt/Frystat, in Silesia, has become part of Karvina/Karwina/Karwin. Freistett is a locality in Baden (Germany), and Freistadl (literally "free small town"), is the German name of Hlohovec, Slovakia, known as Galgoc when it belonged to Hungary, where Jews lived since the 16th century. The adjective "Free" is documented as a family name in the form of Fray in Paris in 1789. Frey is recorded in France in 1792, Frei in Budapest (Hungary) in 1872. In 1957, a man called Frajermann Frenchified his name to Frajert.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Freeman include the Ukrainian-born American writer and journalist, Joseph Freeman (1897-1965), the 20th century English-born Canadian attorney, Harold S. Freeman, and the 20th century American composer and pianist, Stan Freeman.
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This Jewish family name is based on values embedded in tradition and history. The Jewish surname Freeman is an English equivalent of the Yiddish Freiman. Frei means "free" in German. Freedom is one of the fundamental principles of Judaism. It is re-asserted year after year at Passover celebrating the Exodus from "the House of Bondage".
In the Diaspora, the term "Free" also had other connotations. In Jewish communities, a 'Free Man' was an unmarried man, a bachelor, which meant that he could be a potential Freier, that is a "suitor". Another meaning of the Yiddish and Hebrew slang word Freier/Fraier is "simpleton/sucker".
The name is also a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives. A number of Jewish family names comprising the word Frei can have connections with several place names. Freiberg, the German for "free mountain", is a town in Saxony (Germany) and the German name of Pribor, central Silesia (Czech Republic), as well as of Swiebodzice, lower Silesia (Poland), also known as Frybork and Freiburg. Freiburg ("free fortress/town") in Breisgau, Baden (Germany) is known to have had Jewish inhabitants since the 12th century and the Swiss town Freiburg (Fribourg) permitted Jews to settle there in the 14th century. Freistadt ("free town") is a town near Linz (Austria); Freistadt/Frystat, in Silesia, has become part of Karvina/Karwina/Karwin. Freistett is a locality in Baden (Germany), and Freistadl (literally "free small town"), is the German name of Hlohovec, Slovakia, known as Galgoc when it belonged to Hungary, where Jews lived since the 16th century. The adjective "Free" is documented as a family name in the form of Fray in Paris in 1789. Frey is recorded in France in 1792, Frei in Budapest (Hungary) in 1872. In 1957, a man called Frajermann Frenchified his name to Frajert.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Freeman include the Ukrainian-born American writer and journalist, Joseph Freeman (1897-1965), the 20th century English-born Canadian attorney, Harold S. Freeman, and the 20th century American composer and pianist, Stan Freeman.