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

Frayer, 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 Frayer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Frayer in America

Frayer is the 24648th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Frayer surname appeared 1,013 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 Frayer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Frayer 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 Frayer

The surname Frayer is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word 'fraier,' which means 'to rub' or 'to beat.' This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a cloth beater or fuller, a profession responsible for thickening and felting woolen cloth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, compiled in 1273, which mentions a Hugo le Frayer. This historical document serves as evidence of the name's existence in England during the 13th century.

The Frayer surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Fryers Copse in Hampshire and Fryers Court in Oxfordshire. These places may have been named after individuals bearing the Frayer surname or may have been locations where fullers or cloth workers resided.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John le Frayer was listed. This record provides further evidence of the name's prevalence in medieval England.

One notable individual bearing the Frayer surname was Robert Frayer (1623-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Streatham in Surrey. His work, "A Treatise on the Ancient Tenures of Land in the Manor of Taunton Deane," published in 1663, is considered a significant contribution to the study of English land tenure.

Another notable figure was Thomas Frayer (1670-1733), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Cockermouth in Cumberland from 1722 to 1727.

In the 18th century, John Frayer (1718-1791) was a successful merchant and land-owner in Lincolnshire, England. His son, William Frayer (1760-1832), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in the local community.

The Frayer surname also has a presence in other parts of the world, such as the United States and Canada, where it was likely brought by English immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Overall, the surname Frayer has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with its origins closely tied to the cloth-making industry. While its prevalence may have fluctuated over time, it has left an indelible mark on historical records and continues to be carried by individuals around the world today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Frayer

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

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

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

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