Find out how popular the last name Frailey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Frailey.

Frailey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Frailey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Frailey in America

Frailey is the 16635th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Frailey surname appeared 1,723 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Frailey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Frailey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Frailey

The surname Frailey has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "fraelie," meaning "free" or "noble." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone of free or noble status during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Frailey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records compiled for taxation purposes. In these rolls, the name is spelled "Frailegh," indicating its close resemblance to the modern spelling.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various historical documents, such as the Court Rolls of Wiltshire in 1349, where it is recorded as "Frayley." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling conventions were not yet established.

In the 15th century, the Frailey surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, which were tax records from 1523. The name is listed as "Frayly" in these records, further demonstrating the evolution of the spelling over time.

One notable individual bearing the Frailey surname was Sir John Frailey (1567-1635), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Wiltshire during the reign of King James I. He played a significant role in local politics and governance in the early 17th century.

Another historically significant figure was William Frailey (1683-1756), an English clergyman and author who wrote several influential theological works during the 18th century. His most notable publication was "A Treatise on the Doctrine of the Trinity," which sparked substantial debate within the Church of England at the time.

In the late 18th century, the Frailey surname gained prominence with the birth of Mary Frailey (1778-1857), a renowned English philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and championing various charitable causes.

Moving into the 19th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Robert Frailey (1819-1893), a prominent English industrialist and inventor. He is credited with developing several innovative manufacturing processes that revolutionized the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution.

Lastly, the early 20th century saw the rise of Sir Arthur Frailey (1892-1976), a distinguished British military leader who played a pivotal role in the Allied campaigns during World War II. He was highly decorated for his bravery and strategic leadership on the battlefield.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Frailey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Frailey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Frailey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Frailey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Frailey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Frailey, please contact us.

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