Frein last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Frein

A habitational surname derived from a location in France.

Frein, 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 Frein surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Frein in America

Frein is the 46811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Frein surname appeared 454 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 Frein.

We can also compare 2010 data for Frein 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 46811 45829 2.12%
Count 454 439 3.36%
Proportion per 100k 0.15 0.16 -6.45%

The history of the last name Frein

The surname Frein has its origins in France, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "frein," meaning "brake" or "restraint." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with an occupation or trade related to horse equipment or carriage-making.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Frein surname can be found in the Livre des Métiers, a medieval document from Paris dated around 1268, which lists various craftsmen and their professions. This indicates that the name was already in use during the 13th century in the region of Île-de-France.

In the 14th century, records show a Jehan Frein, who was a prominent merchant in the city of Rouen, Normandy. His name appears in several trade documents from the years 1320 to 1348, suggesting that the family had established itself as a respected part of the local mercantile community.

The name Frein can also be found in the Armorial Général, a comprehensive register of French nobility compiled in the late 17th century under the order of King Louis XIV. This indicates that by this time, some members of the Frein family had achieved noble status.

One notable bearer of the Frein surname was Jean-Claude Frein (1718-1804), a French architect and urban planner who was responsible for designing several notable buildings and public spaces in Paris during the late 18th century.

Another prominent figure was Émile Frein (1824-1888), a French politician and lawyer who served as a deputy in the National Assembly during the early years of the Third Republic. He was known for his advocacy of democratic reforms and his opposition to the conservative monarchist factions.

In the literary world, Marie-Louise Frein (1865-1935) was a respected French author and poet, known for her works exploring themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her collection of poetry titled "Les Voix Intérieures" (The Inner Voices) was widely acclaimed upon its publication in 1922.

The Frein surname has also been recorded in various other European countries, suggesting that individuals bearing this name may have migrated or descended from French ancestors. However, the primary origin and historical significance of the name remain firmly rooted in France.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Frein

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

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 Frein was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 98.24% 446
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 1.54% 7

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 98.24% 98.18% 0.06%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 1.54% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Frein last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 6, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/frein-surname-popularity/.

"Frein last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/frein-surname-popularity/. Accessed 6 June, 2025

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

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