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

Fret, 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 Fret surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fret in America

Fret is the 76275th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fret surname appeared 252 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 Fret.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fret 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 Fret

The surname FRET is of French origin, deriving from the Old French word "freter" which means "to grind" or "to rub." It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked as a miller or a grinder.

In the early Middle Ages, the name was found primarily in the northern regions of France, particularly in areas around Paris and Normandy. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Frete."

During the 12th century, the surname FRET began to spread across Europe, carried by French merchants and tradesmen who traveled to other parts of the continent. It is documented in historical records from England, Belgium, and Germany during this period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname FRET was Gilles Fret, a merchant from Rouen, France, who lived in the late 13th century. He was known for his successful trading ventures across the English Channel.

In the 14th century, the name FRET appeared in the town of Frettenham, Norfolk, England, which is believed to have derived its name from the FRET family who settled there. William Fret, born in 1325, was a prominent landowner in Frettenham during this time.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the FRET surname was associated with various trades and professions, including millers, bakers, and stonemasons. Jean Fret, a French baker born in 1487, was renowned for his exceptional bread-making skills and was a supplier to the royal court of King Francis I.

During the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname FRET was Sir Thomas Fret, an English politician and member of Parliament, who lived from 1520 to 1589. He played a significant role in the religious reforms of the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, the FRET name gained recognition in the arts, with the Dutch painter Jan Fret (1625-1675) being one of the most celebrated still-life artists of the Dutch Golden Age.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as Frett, Frette, and Frette-Charlier. One of the most prominent individuals with this surname was the French engineer and architect Jacques Frett-Charlier (1721-1793), who designed several notable buildings in Paris during the reign of King Louis XVI.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fret

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

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

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

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