What is the origin of the Jewish family name Dreyfuss?

I'm told it was originally imposed by Central European princes as Dreifuss (Three-foot).


In Italy it appears as Tripoto (Three-foot).

What is the origin of the Jewish family name Dreyfuss?
it could be their ancestor was a cripple dreyfus can also mean twisted leg
Reply:This is from ancestry.com:


Jewish (western Ashkenazic): habitational name from Trevis, an old name of the city of Trier on the Mosel, known in French as Tr猫ves; both the French and German names come from Latin Augusta Treverorum 鈥榗ity of Augustus among the Treveri鈥? a Celtic tribal name of uncertain origin. The form of the surname has been altered from Trevis by folk etymological association with modern German Dreifuss 鈥榯ripod鈥? Compare Trier.
Reply:It's Yiddish/German for 3 feet. It probably refers to the Celtic heraldic device (as used by the Isle of Man). A number of German princes used this in their flags and coats of arms, and it was transferred as a name to their subjects.
Reply:One source as already suggested is Ancestry dot com





http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Dreyfuss-n...





You could also go on to Jewishgen.com which is a Jewish Ancestry website.