Family names were not so common is large areas in the north of Holland up to the beginning of the 19th century. Especially in Friesland they used patronimes rather than specific family names. People from Friesland therefor often made up a family name as they moved to bigger cities in the west and south. De Vries is such a name.
The name De Vries is very very common in Holland. It means the Frisian or person from Friesland, a province of the Netherlands, with its distinct Frisian language. Many people, with their roots in this province, used De Vries as their family name. In 1811 emperor Napolean ordered all people in Holland to assume a family name, from the civil records of the province Friesland it can be found that no less than, 861, people assumed this name. Surnames of the different descendants of Hendrik from Schoterland can be found on another page. Below you will find some links to genealogical homepages, about some of these families. If you want to add information, please, mail me.
Our De Vries Family from Amsterdam and Schoterland)
De Vries from Sneek, Friesland
De Vries from Hattumhuizen and Kollumerland
De Vries family also from Schoterland
De Vries from Renswoude and Apeldoorn
De Vries from Edam in North Holland
De Vries from Nordhoek, Groningen and Michigan USA
Another De Vries familiy from Groningen
De Vries familiy from Groningen and Drente
De Vries familiy from Surhuisterveen
