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

Fryer, 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 Fryer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fryer in America

Fryer is the 4714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fryer surname appeared 7,524 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Fryer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fryer 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 Fryer

The surname Fryer originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "frygere," meaning "one who fries or cooks." It was an occupational name given to those who worked as fryers or cooks, typically in the kitchens of wealthy households or religious institutions.

In the early days, the surname was often spelled in various ways, including Fryer, Friere, Fryar, and Frier, reflecting the regional accents and dialects of the time. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1203, where it appears as "Radulfus le Friere."

The Fryer surname can also be traced to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Frere" in several counties, including Norfolk and Lincolnshire. This indicates that the name was already in use during the 11th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Fryer, born around 1290 in Yaxley, Suffolk. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of Parliament for Dunwich in 1328.

In the 14th century, the name Fryer was associated with several religious figures, including John Fryer, who was the Abbot of Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire from 1358 to 1371.

During the Tudor period, the Fryer family gained prominence in London, with several members holding positions of influence. Notable among them was Sir Thomas Fryer (c.1510-1573), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1564.

In the 17th century, the name Fryer appeared in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. One notable figure was John Fryer (1639-1733), an English traveler and writer who published an account of his travels to East India and Persia.

Another significant individual was Robert Fryer (1670-1732), an English physician and botanist who made valuable contributions to the study of plants and their medicinal properties.

The Fryer surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Fryers Copse in Hampshire and Fryers Marsh in Suffolk, further reinforcing its historical roots in the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fryer

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

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

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

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