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

Frates, 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 Frates surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Frates in America

Frates is the 19559th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Frates surname appeared 1,380 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 Frates.

We can also compare 2010 data for Frates 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 Frates

The surname Frates originated in Italy, specifically in the northern regions of Piedmont and Liguria, during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "frater," meaning "brother" or "friar." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with members of religious orders or brotherhoods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Frates can be found in a document from the 13th century, where it appears as "Fratis." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

In the 14th century, the name Frates began to appear in various Italian municipal records, such as tax rolls and property deeds. This indicates that the name had become more widespread and established among the general population.

A notable figure bearing the surname Frates was Giovanni Frates, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in Genoa during the 15th century (c. 1420-1490). He authored several influential works on theology and philosophy, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

During the Renaissance period, the name Frates can be found in various artistic and literary works, reflecting its presence among the cultural elite of Italy. One such example is the poet and playwright Girolamo Frates (c. 1510-1580), who gained recognition for his comedic plays and satirical works.

In the 17th century, the Frates family established a prominent presence in the region of Piedmont, particularly in the city of Turin. Giacomo Frates (1598-1672) was a influential merchant and banker who played a significant role in the economic development of the city.

As the name Frates spread throughout Italy and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as Fratis, Frati, and Frate. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciations.

Another notable figure was the philosopher and theologian Alessandro Frates (1650-1718), who taught at the University of Bologna and contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time through his writings on ethics and metaphysics.

In the 19th century, the name Frates gained international recognition with the explorer and geographer Giovanni Frates (1810-1879). He embarked on several expeditions to Africa and the Middle East, making significant contributions to the field of geography and cartography.

Throughout its history, the surname Frates has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, merchants, and explorers, reflecting its enduring presence across different eras and regions of Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Frates

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

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

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

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