List of Frisians

This is a list of famous or notable persons considered Frisians by citizenship, ethnicity or nationality.

A

Bernard Accama (1697–1756), 18th-century painter from Friesland
Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912), Dutch painter from Dronrijp
Stine Andresen (1849–1927), poet from Föhr who also wrote in Fering; befriended poet Friedrich Hebbel

B

Nicolaas Baur (1736–1817), portrait painter from Harlingen
Eggerik Beninga (1490–1562), East Frisian chronicler
William Bergsma (1921–1994), American composer of Frisian descent
Titus Brandsma (1881–1942), Carmelite priest of the Roman Catholic Church, anti-Nazi Dutch resistance voice
Hinrich Braren (1751–1826), nautical examiner from Föhr; wrote the first textbook on navigation in German language
Oluf Braren (1787–1839), painter from Föhr
Dan Bylsma, NHL head coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins (born 1970), of Frisian descent

C

Franciscus Carree (c. 1630), was made the first painter of William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz
Peter Harry Carstensen (born 1947), Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein from 2005 to 2012

D

Edsger Dijkstra (1930–2002), computer scientist
Everett Dirksen (1896-1969), American politician of the Republican Party; parents were born in East Frisia
Pier Gerlofs Donia (1480–1520), Frisian freedom fighter and folk hero; founder of the Arumer Black Heap
Ennik Somi Douma (stage name Jeon Somi, born 2001), South Korean-Canadian singer
Lenny Dykstra, Major League baseball player for the New York Mets (1985–1989) and Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1996)

E

Fred Eaglesmith, Canadian folk singer; original last name was Elgersma
Gerard Edema (1652–1700?), Dutch landscape-painter who settled in England
Edzard the Great (1461–1528), count of East Frisia from 1491 until his death in 1528
Dieter Eilts, football (soccer) player; nicknamed the Alemão of East Frisia; won the UEFA European Championship 1996 with Germany
Eise Eisinga (1744–1828), Frisian amateur astronomer and builder of the oldest working planetaria in the world
Ubbo Emmius (1547–1625), professor of history and Greek
Heiko Engelkes (1933–2008), German journalist born in Norden, East Frisia
Jens Jacob Eschels (1757–1842), seafarer and entrepreneur; became known by his autobiography
Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898–1972), graphic artist born in Leeuwarden
Balthasar Oomkens von Esens (died 1540), East Frisian nobleman who opposed House Cirksena
Rudolf Eucken (1846–1926), German philosopher; winner of the 1908 Nobel Prize for Literature

F

David Fabricius (1564–1617), astronomer and theologian
Johannes Fabricius (1587–1616), astronomer and a discoverer of sunspots, independently of Galileo Galilei
Pieter Feddes van Harlingen (1586–1623), Dutch Golden Age painter
Bernard Fokke (1600–1641), on whom the Flying Dutchman is said to be based
Jane Fonda, actress with Frisian ancestry
Magnus Forteman (~809), legendary commander and magistrate governor of Friesland
William Frankena (1908–1994), American philosopher of Ethics; scholar in history of ethics; played role in controversies of the 1950s
Josh Freese, American musician of Frisian descent
Gemma Frisius (1508–1555), mathematician and cartographer

G

Ygo Gales Galama (1443–1493), infamous medieval warlord; Galama-family patriarch
Wybrand de Geest (1592 – c. 1661), Dutch Golden Age portrait painter
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961), prime minister of the Dutch government in exile during World War II

H

Tamme Hanken (1960–2016), German horse whisperer and bonesetter from Filsum
Mata Hari (born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, August 7, 1876, in Leeuwarden, Friesland), infamous dancer, courtesan; executed as a spy in France, October 1917
Wiebbe Hayes (born c. 1608), Colonial soldier hero from Winschoten
Grant Hayunga (born 1970), painter and musician
Simon Heere Heeresma (1932–2011), Dutch author and poet
Hendrik Eelke Hiddinga (1942), Professional cyclist
Meindert Hobbema (1638-1709), Dutch Golden Age painter

I

Dodo zu Innhausen und Knyphausen (1583–1636), professional soldier from Lütetsburg, East Frisia; field marshal in Swedish service during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)
Ub Iwerks (1901–1971), American animator, cartoonist, character designer, inventor, and special effects technician; co-created Mickey Mouse

J

Gysbert Japiks (1603–1666), Frisian writer, poet, schoolteacher and cantor
Wijard Jelckama (1490–1523), Frisian freedom fighter, nephew of Pier Gerlofs Donia and who later led the Frisian rebellion (Arumer Black Heap)
Tako Hajo Jelgersma (1702–1795), 18th-century Dutch painter
William Harry Jellema (1893-1982), American philosopher
Carl Ludwig Jessen (1833–1917), North Frisian Naturalist painter

K

Wilhelm von Knyphausen (1716–1800), general from Hesse-Cassel; fought in the American Revolutionary War, during which he led Hessian mercenaries on behalf of the British Empire
Tjalling Koopmans (1910–1985), Dutch American mathematician and economist; Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences
Sven Kramer, Dutch long track speed skater
Doutzen Kroes (born January 23, 1985, in Eastermar, Friesland), Dutch supermodel
Joost Klein (born November 10, 1997 in Leeuwarden, Friesland), Dutch musician, rapper, singer and former Youtuber

L

Anna-Marie Lampe, Playboy magazine (US edition) 40th anniversary Playmate/Playmate of the Month for January 1994; Playboy magazine (Dutch edition) Playmate of the year for 1995
Cynthia Lenige (1755–1780), poet
Abe Lenstra (1920–1985), Dutch football player and national football icon in the 1950s
Boy Lornsen (1922–1995), author and sculptor from Sylt, Germany
Jack Lousma, astronaut with Frisian ancestry

M

Theodor Mommsen (1817–1903), received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1902; German politician, member of the Prussian and German parliaments
Hans Momsen (1735–1811), North Frisian farmer, layman mathematician and astronomer
F. W. Matthiessen (1835-1918) Born in Altona, Denmark, Descendant of Matthias Petersen (Matthias der Gluckliche), co-founder of Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Works in LaSalle, IL (USA), Founder of Westclox (now General Time), Philanthropist, Matthiessen State Park Deer Park, IL (USA)

O

Hark Olufs (1708–1754), sailor from Amrum; was enslaved by Algerian pirates; eventually became Commander in Chief of the Bey of Constantine's cavalry
Christian von Ompteda (1765–1815), commander in the Napoleonic Wars
Jürgen Ovens (1623–1678), portrait painter from North Frisia; said to have been a pupil of Rembrandt

P

Frederik Paulsen Sr (1909–1997), physician; founder of Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Tjede Peckes (1500–1517), female Wurster Frisian military flag bearer who was slain in the Battle of the Wremer Djip.
Sam Peckinpah, American film director and screenwriter
Matthias Petersen (1632–1706), whaling captain from Föhr; in his lifetime he caught 373 whales
Wolfgang Petersen, German movie director (Das Boot)
David Petraeus, former four-star general in the United States Army, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; his father was a sea captain from Franeker, Netherlands
Alvin Plantinga, American philosopher of Frisian descent
Gerriet Postma (1932–2009), Dutch painter

R

Hendrik van Rijgersma (1835–1877), physician and amateur botanist, malacologist and ichthyologist
Rintje Ritsma, former Dutch long track speed skater

S

Menno Simons (1496 – January 31, 1561), Anabaptist religious leader from Friesland whose followers became known as Mennonites
Kyrsten Sinema (born 1976), American politician and former social worker; U.S. Senator from Arizona
Friede Springer (born 1942), widow of publisher Axel Springer; major shareholder of Axel Springer AG
Theodor Storm (1817–1888), wrote Der Schimmelreiter
Peter Stuyvesant (1612–1672), last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland (New York)

V

Simon Vestdijk (1899–1971), novelist, musician, psychological analyst
Wigerus Vitringa (1657-1725), Dutch painter
Jouke de Vries, Dutch PVDA politician

W

Otto Waalkes, German comedian, actor and musician, born in Emden
Hayley Westenra, singer from New Zealand; of some Frisian descent^[1]
Harm Wiersma (born 1953 in Leeuwarden), six time world champion in draughts and politician
Piter Wilkens (born 1959), Frisian folk and pop singer