Frain last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Frain

A variant spelling of the French surname Frein, which denotes someone from the region of Freine.

Frain, 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 Frain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Frain in America

Frain is the 18511th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Frain surname appeared 1,491 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 Frain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Frain 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 18511 17755 4.17%
Count 1,491 1,455 2.44%
Proportion per 100k 0.51 0.54 -5.71%

The history of the last name Frain

The surname FRAIN has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "frein," meaning "curb" or "bridle," suggesting an occupational connection to horse breeding or handling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FRAIN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Radulfus Frain is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, suggesting the name's presence in various regions of England during the Middle Ages.

The FRAIN surname has ties to several place names in England, such as Frain's Green in Worcestershire and Frain's Farm in Buckinghamshire. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the FRAIN surname, indicating their ownership or association with those locations.

Historically, the name FRAIN has been associated with notable individuals. One such person was Sir John Frain, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. Records show that he participated in the Scottish Wars of Independence and was granted lands in Northumberland by King Edward III in recognition of his military service.

Another notable figure was Richard Frain, born in 1547, who was a renowned scholar and theologian at Cambridge University. He authored several influential works on religious subjects and was known for his expertise in Biblical studies.

In the 17th century, a prominent member of the FRAIN family was Elizabeth Frain, born in 1623. She was a successful businesswoman and landowner in London, owning several properties and establishing herself as a respected figure in the city's mercantile circles.

The FRAIN surname also has connections to the arts. John Frain, born in 1785, was a celebrated landscape painter whose works captured the beauty of the English countryside. His paintings are still highly regarded and can be found in various art galleries and private collections.

Thomas Frain, born in 1832, was a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall. His innovative designs and attention to detail earned him widespread acclaim and left a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

Throughout its history, the FRAIN surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to the rich tapestry of English culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Frain

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

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 Frain was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.30% 1,406
Non-Hispanic Black Only 1.07% 16
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.95% 29
Hispanic Origin 2.15% 32

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 Frain has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.30% 96.36% -2.16%
Black 1.07% 1.10% -2.76%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.55% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.95% 1.10% 55.74%
Hispanic 2.15% 0.89% 82.89%

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 Frain was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Frain last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/frain-surname-popularity/.

"Frain last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/frain-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Frain last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/frain-surname-popularity/.

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