Freca

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The female first name Freca , like the similar female first names Freka, Frecka, Frika, Frica , Freke and Frike , has been attested since the 16th century, especially in the Low German-Frisian-speaking area.

Nordic language area

All the names mentioned can be traced back to the old Germanic male name Friedrich , which was formed from the Germanic elements * frithu- meaning "peace, protection" and rihhi " rich, powerful, high; rule, ruler". In the Middle Ages, Friedrich was a popular name for rulers. Since the 8th century, the similar male names Frico, Friko, Fricco, Fricko, Frecco, Freco, Frekin and Frican are attested, which go back to the Germanic * freka- meaning "greedy to fight". In old Germanic poetic texts, among other things, male names such as B. Hildfreca, formed from * hildiö- " fight" and freca " hero, warrior", meaning " battle hero". The Germanic * freka- corresponds to the Anglo-Saxon poetic freca " hero, warrior". It goes back to the Old English frec meaning "brave, brave, bold" (cf. also the Gothic friks, the Old Norse frekr and the Old High German cheeky).

JRR Tolkien was probably inspired by the old English freca (hero, warrior) in his character Freca in his work Lord of the Rings .

In Germany, the name is usually understood as a female given name because of its ending -a . The best known name bearer in Germany was the actress, author and director Freca-Renate Bortfeldt .

Southern language area

In the southern German language area, the word Frecker is pronounced as [freggà] just like Freca .

literature

  • Database of name advice at the University of Leipzig.
  • W. Seibicke: Historical German first name book. Volume 2. Berlin. New York 1998, pp. 71-95
  • MP Tammena: naming in East Friesland. Soltau-Kurier-Norden 2009, pp. 428-429, 576-577, 715-717 and 851-852
  • R. de Haan: Fryske foarnammen. Friesian first names. Leeuwarden. Ljouwert 2002, pp. 53-54
  • G. Reinhardt: Baptized on the North Frisian Islands. 2300 Frisian names on Amrum. Foehr. Sylt, Hamburg 1984, pp. 129-130
  • B. Brons: Frisian names and communications about them. Emden 1877.