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

Fras, 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 Fras surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fras in America

Fras is the 124548th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fras surname appeared 138 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fras.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fras 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 Fras

The surname FRAS has its origins in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "fras," which meant "glutton" or "greedy eater." This surname was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a hearty appetite or was known for their fondness for food.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname FRAS can be found in the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt in the 14th century. A certain Hans Fras was mentioned in a local census record from the year 1372. It is possible that the name was originally spelled differently, such as "Frasss" or "Frass," before evolving into its modern form.

In the 15th century, the FRAS surname appeared in various parts of Germany, including the regions of Saxony and Thuringia. During this time, the name was sometimes associated with the German word "Frass," which referred to the droppings or excrement of insects or other small animals.

One notable figure with the surname FRAS was Johannes Fras (1456-1523), a German scholar and theologian who served as a rector at the University of Leipzig. Another significant individual was Heinrich Fras (1612-1685), a Protestant minister and author from Saxony who wrote several religious treatises.

In the 17th century, the FRAS surname spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and France. A Dutch military officer named Pieter Fras (1628-1698) fought in several campaigns during the Franco-Dutch War and was awarded the title of Baron for his service.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the FRAS surname continued to appear in various German-speaking regions, as well as in areas where German immigrants had settled. One notable figure was Karl Fras (1788-1864), a German-born composer and musician who spent much of his career in Austria and wrote numerous operas and choral works.

Lastly, a mention should be made of the French philosopher and writer Jean-Paul Fras (1847-1922), who was born in Alsace but spent most of his life in Paris. He wrote extensively on topics such as existentialism and the human condition, and his works were influential in the development of modern French thought.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fras

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

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

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

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