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

Frisby, 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 Frisby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Frisby in America

Frisby is the 8350th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Frisby surname appeared 3,964 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Frisby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Frisby 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 Frisby

The surname Frisby has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Frisby, which is found in several counties across the country, including Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Gloucestershire. The name is thought to have its roots in the Old English words "frisc" and "by," which together mean "fresh settlement" or "fresh village."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Frisby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Frisebi" in the county of Lincolnshire. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and place names across England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Peter de Friseby, who held lands in Leicestershire in 1235. Another notable figure bearing this surname was John Frisby, a prominent clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Leicester in the late 14th century.

During the 16th century, the Frisby name gained prominence with the birth of John Frisby (1521-1570), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. He played a significant role in the affairs of his local community and left a lasting legacy.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including the parish registers of Lincolnshire, where a William Frisby was recorded as a landowner in the village of Frisby in 1612.

Moving into the 18th century, one notable figure was James Frisby (1731-1802), an English artist and engraver known for his intricate works depicting architectural subjects and landscapes.

The 19th century saw the birth of Sir Edgar Frisby (1869-1941), a highly decorated British Army officer who served in the Boer War and World War I, earning numerous accolades for his bravery and leadership.

Throughout its history, the surname Frisby has been associated with various locations across England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Gloucestershire. While the spelling has remained relatively consistent over time, variations such as Frysbie and Friseby have also been documented in historical records.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Frisby

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

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

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

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