De Vries Explained

de Vries
Pronunciation:	in Dutch; Flemish də ˈvris/
Meaning:	The Frisian
Region:	Netherlands
Language:	Dutch
Variant:	DeVries, Devries, Vries

De Vries is one of the most common Dutch surnames.^[1] It indicates a geographical origin: "Vriesland" is an old spelling of the Dutch province of Friesland (Frisia). Hence, "de Vries" means "the Frisian". The name has been modified to "DeVries", "deVries", or "Devries" in other countries.

People named De Vries:

Academics

Barend de Vries (1925–2010) - Dutch economist at the World Bank
Benjamin de Vries (born 1923) - Dutch-Israeli economic historian
Gerda de Vries, Canadian mathematician
Glen de Vries (1971–2021) - American medical entrepreneur
Gustav de Vries (1866–1934) - Dutch mathematician
Hans de Vries (1927–2021) - Dutch economic historian
Hent de Vries (born 1958) - Dutch philosopher
Hessel de Vries (1916–1959) - Dutch physicist
Hugo de Vries (1848–1935) - Dutch botanist and geneticist
Jan de Vries (philologist) (1890–1964) - Dutch Germanic mythologist
Jan de Vries (historian) (1943) - Dutch-American historian
Jouke de Vries (born 1960) - Dutch University Dean
Jurn de Vries (born 1940) - Dutch theologian and journalist
Keith DeVries (1937–2006) - American archaeologist
Kelly DeVries (born 1956) - American medievalist historian
Marc de Vries (born 1958) - Dutch physicist
Margaret Garritsen de Vries (1922–2009) - American economist
Philip James DeVries (born 1952) - American entomologist and evolutionary ecologist
Rheta Devries (1936–2012) - American educator
Ronald P. de Vries (born 196?); mycologist^[2]
Susanna de Vries (born 1936) - Australian historian
Warren DeVries - American mechanical engineer

Arts, acting, music

Abraham de Vries (painter) (c. 1590 – 1649/50) - Dutch portrait painter
Adriaen de Vries (1556–1626) - Dutch sculptor
Andrew DeVries (born 1957) - American painter and sculptor
Bouke de Vries (born 1960) - Dutch ceramist in England
Casper de Vries (born 1964) - South African comedian
David Devriès (1881–1936) - French lyric operatic tenor
David de Vries (born 1961) - Australian film and comic book maker
Dolf de Vries (1937–2020) - Dutch actor
Doug de Vries (born 1960) - Australian guitarist
Erwin de Vries (1929–2018) - Surinamese painter and sculptor
Han de Vries (born 1941) - Dutch oboist
Hendrik de Vries (1896–1989) - Dutch poet and painter
Henri de Vries (1864–1949) - Dutch film actor
Herman de Vries (born 1931) - Dutch artist
Jill De Vries (born 1953) - American model
John DeVries (1915 - 1992) - American lyricist
John de Vries (born 1946) - Dutch car designer
Klaas de Vries (composer) (born 1944) - Dutch composer
Leondre Devries (born 2000) - British pop singer
Louis de Vries (1905–1935) - Dutch jazz trumpeter
Marius De Vries (born 1961) - English music producer
Matt DeVries (born 1977) - American guitarist
Nathalie de Vries (born 1965) - Dutch architect
Roelof de Vries (1631 – c. 1690) - Dutch landscape painter
Rosa de Vries-van Os (1828–1889) - Dutch operatic singer
Simon de Vries (1570–75 – 1628/29) - Dutch engraver better known as Frisius

Politics and religion

Abraham de Vries (minister) (1773–1862) - Dutch Mennonite minister
Albert de Vries (born 1955) - Dutch politician
Aukje de Vries (born 1964) - Dutch politician
Bert de Vries (born 1938) - Dutch CDA politician
Betsi DeVries (born 1952) - American (New Hampshire) politician
Bibi de Vries (born 1963) - Dutch VVD politician
Christoph de Vries (born 1974), German politician
Cornelis de Vries (1740–1812) - Dutch Mennonite minister
George Devries (1896–1957) - Australian (Queensland) politician
Gerrit de Vries (politician) (1818–1900) - Dutch prime minister
Gijs de Vries (born 1956) - Dutch politician
Henry Lucien de Vries (1909–1987) - Surinamese politician and entrepreneur
Jack de Vries (born 1968) - Dutch CDA politician
Jannewietske de Vries (born 1961) - Dutch (Friesland) politician
John Devries (Yukon politician) (born 1945) - Canadian (Yukon) politician
Kees de Vries (born 1955), German/Dutch politician (CDU)
Klaas de Vries (Christian Democratic Appeal) (1917–1999) - Dutch politician
Klaas de Vries (Labour Party) (born 1943) - Dutch politician
Marion De Vries (1865–1939) - American politician
Monique de Vries (born 1947) - Dutch VVD politician
Walter DeVries (1929–2019) - American political consultant

Sports

Alida de Vries (1914–2007) - Dutch sprinter
Anita Valen de Vries (born 1968), Norwegian racing cyclist
Ann Devries (born 1970) - Belgian tennis player
Berden de Vries (born 1989) - Dutch racing cyclist
Bob de Vries (born 1984) - Dutch speed skater
Carl E. DeVries (1921–2010) - American football coach
Cole De Vries (born 1985) - American baseball pitcher
A family of American sportspeople:
- Darian DeVries (born 1975) - basketball coach (older brother)
- Jared DeVries (born 1976) - American football player (younger brother)
- Tucker DeVries (born 2002) - basketball player (son of Darian)
Dorien de Vries (born 1965) - Dutch competitive sailor
Dorus de Vries (born 1980) - Dutch football goalkeeper
Douwe de Vries (born 1982) - Dutch speed skater
Elma de Vries (born 1983) - Dutch speed skater
Feike de Vries (born 1943) - Dutch water polo player
Floris de Vries (born 1989) - Dutch golfer
Francis de Vries (born 1994) - New Zealand footballer
François De Vries (1913–1972) - Belgian footballer
Gerrit de Vries (cyclist) (born 1967) - Dutch road cyclist
Greg de Vries (born 1973) - Canadian hockey player
Jack de Vries (soccer) (born 2002) – American soccer player
Jan de Vries (athlete) (1896–1939) - Dutch sprinter
Jan de Vries (motorcyclist) (1944–2021) - Dutch motorcycle road racer
Jan-Lodewijk de Vries (born 1972) - Dutch water polo player
Jeroen de Vries (born 1971) - Dutch speed skater
John de Vries (born 1966) - Australian racecar driver
Johnny de Vries (born 1990) - Dutch footballer
Kristi de Vries (born 1982) - Dutch softball player
Lianne de Vries (born 1990) - Dutch footballer
Linda de Vries (born 1988) - Dutch speed skater
Marijn de Vries (born 1978) - Dutch racing cyclist and journalist
Mark de Vries (born 1975) - Dutch footballer
Martijn de Vries (born 1992) - Dutch footballer
Martin de Vries (born 1960) - Dutch basketball player
Mered de Vries (born 1977) - Dutch volleyballer
Michelle de Vries (born 1961) - Australian swimmer
Myles de Vries (born 1940) - English cricketer
Nyck de Vries (born 1995) - Dutch racing driver
Paul de Vries (born 1996) - Ghanaian footballer
Raimo de Vries (born 1969) - Dutch footballer
Remon de Vries (born 1979) - Dutch footballer
Rianne de Vries (born 1990) - Dutch speed skater
Rika de Vries (born 1974) - Dutch sitting volleyball player
Ruan de Vries (born 1986)] - South African hurdler
Ryan De Vries (born 1992) - New Zealand footballer
Sjerstin de Vries-Vermeulen (born 1972/73) - Dutch swimmer and equestrian
Steve DeVries (born 1964) - American tennis player
Tjark de Vries (born 1965) – Dutch rower
Troy DeVries (born 1982) - American basketball player
Vikki de Vries (born 1964) - American figure skater
Vincent de Vries (born 1994) - Dutch badminton player

Writing and journalism

Abe de Vries (born 1965) - Dutch West Frisian-language writer and poet
Abraham H. de Vries (born 1937) - Afrikaans author
Anke de Vries (born 1936) – Dutch youth writer
Anne de Vries (1904–1964) - Dutch author
Maggie De Vries (born 1961) - Canadian writer
Peter De Vries (1910–1993) - American editor and comic novelist
Peter R. de Vries (1956–2021) - Dutch journalist
Rachel Guido deVries (born 1947) - American poet and novelist
Stefan de Vries (born 1970) - Dutch writer and journalist
Theun de Vries (1907–2005) - Dutch writer and poet

Other

David Pietersz. de Vries (c. 1593 – 1665) - Dutch navigator and New Netherland patroon
Glen de Vries (1972–2021) - American businessman
Hidde Sjoerds de Vries (1645–1694) - Dutch admiral
Jan de Vries (soldier) (1924–2012) - Canadian veteran's advocate
Lini De Vries (1905–1982) - Dutch-born American public health nurse in Mexico
Maarten Gerritsz Vries (or "de Vries") (1589–1647) - Dutch cartographer and explorer
Mike de Vries (born 1958) - German businessman
Nina de Vries (born 1961) - Dutch sex worker
Roel de Vries (born 1968) - Dutch engineer and businessman in Japan
Roland de Vries - South African Army officer
Tara De Vries (born 1999) – Turkish-Dutch beauty pageant
Tjerk Hiddes de Vries (1622–1666) - Dutch admiral and naval hero
William DeVries (born 1943) - American surgeon who performed first permanent artificial heart transplant

Compound surnames

Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries (born 1943) - Dutch author and researcher
Daniel Rooseboom de Vries (born 1980) - Dutch freestyle footballer
Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527–1607) - Dutch architect
Jacob Vredeman de Vries (1588–1621) - Dutch kapellmeister and composer
Paul Vredeman de Vries (1567–1617) - Flemish painter and draughtsman
Salomon Vredeman de Vries (1556–1604) - Flemish painter and draughtsman
Herman de Vries de Heekelingen (1880–1942) - Dutch archaeologist and historian
Gerard de Vries Lentsch (1883–1973) - Dutch competitive sailor
Willem de Vries Lentsch (1886–1980) - Dutch competitive sailor
Wim de Vries Lentsch (1914–2007) - Dutch competitive sailor
Hans Dirk de Vries Reilingh (1908–2001) - Dutch geographer
Boyd van der Vuurst de Vries (born 1999) – Dutch basketball player
Keye van der Vuurst de Vries (born 2001) – Dutch basketball player
Piet van Wyk de Vries (born 1972) - South African songwriter

Fictional people

Alicia DeVries - drop commando and captain of the alpha synth starship Megaera from the novel Path of the Fury by David Weber
Cassandra de Vries - director of the dataDyne corporation from the Perfect Dark video game series
Hugo De Vries - an adversary of Inspector Morse, featured in the episode Masonic Mysteries
Piter De Vries - a twisted Mentat in the 1965 novel Dune
Tissaia de Vries - a sorceress in The Witcher series
Leon De Vries - South African mining supervisor and secondary antagonist in the 2020 horror game

Notes and References

Brouwer, Leendert. De top 100 van de familienamen in Nederland. KNAW/Meertens Instituut, 2010.
Web site: Ronald P. de Vries's research works | Utrecht University, Utrecht (UU) and other places. 26 March 2023.