UK surname
An English toponymic surname referring to someone from a place called Freston.
In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Freston surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #20,843 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rattlesden, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Freston is 181 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.9%.
1881 census count
91
Ranked #20,843
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1861
181 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Freston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Freston surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 130 | #14,314 |
| 1861 | historical | 181 | #12,997 |
| 1881 | historical | 91 | #20,843 |
| 1891 | historical | 152 | #18,163 |
| 1901 | historical | 78 | #25,500 |
| 1911 | historical | 126 | #19,831 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 72 | #30,775 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 72 | #31,269 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 58 | #33,433 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 63 | #33,982 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rattlesden, London parishes, St Pancras, St Marylebone and Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke,. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rattlesden | Suffolk |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Reddenhall, Mendham (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Withersdale (Stradbroke, Suffolk), Metfield (Stradbroke, | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Freston surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Freston, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Freston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Freston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Freston is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Freston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Freston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Freston is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically a town or village called Freston, located in the county of Suffolk, England.
Freston was first recorded as "Fristuna" in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and settlements commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is derived from the Old English words "frisc" (fresh or new) and "tun" (farm or settlement), suggesting it may have been a newly established settlement at the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Freston dates back to the 13th century. In 1273, a Ralph de Freston was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk, a census-like survey of landholders and their holdings.
In the 14th century, a Thomas Freston was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327, a record of taxpayers in the region. This suggests that the Freston family had established themselves as landowners or individuals of some means during this time.
Notable historical figures bearing the Freston surname include Sir John Freston (c. 1490-1565), a prominent English lawyer and judge during the Tudor period, who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer under Queen Elizabeth I.
Another noteworthy individual was Robert Freston (1603-1680), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in the 17th century.
In the 18th century, John Freston (1719-1783) was a renowned English musician and composer, best known for his work on the violoncello and his contributions to the development of English chamber music.
The Freston name also has ties to the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Thomas Freston, who arrived in Virginia in 1635, as documented in the records of the Virginia Company.
Throughout history, the Freston surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Freston Hall in Suffolk, which was once the seat of the Freston family, and Freston Tower, a folly located in the same county.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Freston surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 20 Frestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 20 | 14.66x |
| Middlesex | 17 | 1.92x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.33x |
| Kent | 9 | 2.97x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.62x |
| Essex | 6 | 3.42x |
| Devon | 4 | 2.17x |
| Huntingdonshire | 4 | 22.70x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 3.70x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 2.59x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.84x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redenhall in Norfolk leads with 11 Frestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2075.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Redenhall | 11 | 2075.47x |
| St Pancras London | 9 | 12.60x |
| Chislehurst | 8 | 493.83x |
| Cheetham | 7 | 89.06x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 22.71x |
| Islington London | 6 | 6.98x |
| West Ham | 6 | 15.51x |
| Great Yarmouth | 5 | 44.25x |
| Speke | 4 | 2500.00x |
| St Ives | 4 | 439.56x |
| West Alvington | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 3 | 44.25x |
| Chiswick | 2 | 41.24x |
| Denton | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Everton | 2 | 5.96x |
| Beccles | 1 | 57.47x |
| Canterbury Christchurch | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Hemsby | 1 | 500.00x |
| Horninglow | 1 | 70.92x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 1 | 27.25x |
| Ipswich St Peter | 1 | 68.49x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.29x |
| Mendham | 1 | 434.78x |
| Moss Side | 1 | 18.05x |
| South Leith | 1 | 7.47x |
| St Lawrence | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Wortwell | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Freston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Freston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Freston households.
FAQ
In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Freston surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Freston a modern rank of #34,227.
An English toponymic surname referring to someone from a place called Freston.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Freston bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.