NameCensus.

UK surname

Frendo

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "foreign, foreign-born" or "stranger".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Welwyn Hatfield, Bexley and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frendo is 112 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

2013

112 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Frendo surname distribution map

The map shows where the Frendo surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Frendo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Frendo over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 105 #29,287
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Frendos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Welwyn Hatfield, Bexley, Redbridge, Barnet and Manchester. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Welwyn Hatfield 016 Welwyn Hatfield
2 Bexley 002 Bexley
3 Redbridge 005 Redbridge
4 Barnet 008 Barnet
5 Manchester 012 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Frendo

These lists show first names that appear often with the Frendo surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Frendo

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Frendo, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Frendo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Frendo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Frendo is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Frendo is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Frendo falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Frendo is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Frendo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Frendo

The surname Frendo has its origins in Malta, a small island nation located in the central Mediterranean Sea. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, when the islands were under the control of various European powers, including the Normans, Aragonese, and the Knights of St. John.

In its earliest form, the name was likely derived from the Italian word "frendo," meaning "to gnash or grind one's teeth." This could suggest that the name may have been a descriptive nickname given to an ancestor who had a distinctive habit or mannerism related to teeth grinding.

Alternatively, some scholars have proposed that the name may be a variation of the Italian word "frenello," which refers to a type of bridle or halter used for horses. This potential origin could indicate that the name was initially associated with an individual involved in equestrian activities or horse breeding.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Frendo can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records related to Malta. One notable example is the 1575 census conducted by the Order of St. John, which listed several families bearing the Frendo name.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Frendos were among the prominent families of Malta, with several members holding influential positions within the local nobility and the Church. One such individual was Sir Placido Frendo (1675-1742), a knight of the Order of St. John and a renowned military commander who participated in several campaigns against the Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure was Gio Pietro Frendo (1718-1789), a Maltese philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of classical literature and the promotion of education on the islands.

In the 19th century, the Frendo name gained international recognition through the work of Antonio Frendo (1815-1885), a Maltese architect and civil engineer who designed several iconic buildings in Malta, including the Addolorata Cemetery and the Palazzo Falzon in Mdina.

More recently, the Frendo surname has been carried by individuals such as Joe Frendo (1923-2015), a Maltese artist and sculptor known for his works depicting Maltese culture and traditions, and Mario Frendo (1949-), a Maltese politician and academic who served as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009.

While the exact origins of the Frendo surname may be subject to debate, its long-standing presence in Maltese history and its association with notable figures across various fields have contributed to its enduring legacy and cultural significance within the Maltese archipelago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Frendo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frendo surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Royal Navy leads with 7 Frendos recorded in 1881 and an index of 864.20x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 7 864.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Royal Navy in Royal Navy leads with 7 Frendos recorded in 1881 and an index of 1014.49x.

Place Total Index
Royal Navy 7 1014.49x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Frendo surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Frank 2
A. 1
Antonio 1
G. 1
Lorenzo 1
V. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Frendo households.

Occupation Count
Bandsman 4
Stoker 3

FAQ

Frendo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Frendo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Frendo a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Frendo surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "foreign, foreign-born" or "stranger".

What does the Frendo map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Frendo bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.