Frederick is the English form of a Germanic name meaning "peaceful ruler" (from frid - "peace" and ric - "ruler"). This was a common royal name, as rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, and Prussia all bore it. It was originally brought to England following the Norman Conquest, but its use quickly died out. The name was revived in England when the German House of Hanover inherited the British throne in the 18th century. Although its popularity has dropped since its peak at the beginning of the 20th century, it has recently started to rise again.