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

Fretty, 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 Fretty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fretty in America

Fretty is the 93513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fretty surname appeared 196 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 Fretty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fretty 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 Fretty

The surname Fretty originated in England during the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "frettan," which means "to adorn" or "to decorate." The name was likely given to someone who worked as a decorator or embroiderer, adorning tapestries, fabrics, or other materials with intricate designs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fretty surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1195, where a person named Willelmus Fretty is mentioned. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the medieval period in England.

In the 13th century, the Fretty surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a record of landowners and tenants compiled in 1273. This reference suggests that the name was well-established and associated with a particular family or individual during that time.

The Fretty surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Frettenham in Norfolk and Frettenden in Kent. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname or provided a geographical connection for certain Fretty families.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Fretty surname. One such person was John Fretty, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Lincolnshire in the 15th century. Another notable figure was William Fretty, a scholar and priest who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire during the 16th century (born circa 1510, died 1587).

In the 17th century, the Fretty surname gained recognition through the work of Thomas Fretty, a renowned artist and engraver who was active in London (born circa 1630, died 1702). His intricate engravings and illustrations were highly regarded during his lifetime.

During the 18th century, a prominent figure with the Fretty surname was Sir Richard Fretty (1712-1783), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He was known for his support of charitable causes and his contributions to the city's development.

Another notable individual was Elizabeth Fretty (1755-1829), a pioneering female writer and poet from Lancashire. Her work, which explored themes of nature and spirituality, was widely acclaimed and helped pave the way for future female authors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fretty

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

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

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

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