NameCensus.

UK surname

Frew

A variant of the Scottish surname Frood, meaning a wise or prudent person.

In the 1881 census there were 1,517 people recorded with the Frew surname, ranking it #2,769 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,881, ranked #2,336, up from #2,769 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, New Monkland and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields, Springside and Rural and Auchinleck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frew is 2,881 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.9%.

1881 census count

1,517

Ranked #2,769

Modern count

2,881

2016, ranked #2,336

Peak year

2016

2,881 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frew had 1,517 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,769 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,881 in 2016, ranked #2,336.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,986 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Frew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Frew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Frew 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
1851 historical 1,047 #2,676
1861 historical 1,184 #2,393
1881 historical 1,517 #2,769
1891 historical 1,656 #2,708
1901 historical 1,986 #2,674
1911 historical 211 #14,467
1997 modern 2,605 #2,439
1998 modern 2,786 #2,383
1999 modern 2,752 #2,426
2000 modern 2,767 #2,403
2001 modern 2,715 #2,399
2002 modern 2,750 #2,418
2003 modern 2,691 #2,414
2004 modern 2,708 #2,406
2005 modern 2,726 #2,371
2006 modern 2,712 #2,381
2007 modern 2,758 #2,375
2008 modern 2,805 #2,354
2009 modern 2,845 #2,374
2010 modern 2,870 #2,400
2011 modern 2,814 #2,414
2012 modern 2,788 #2,394
2013 modern 2,809 #2,417
2014 modern 2,864 #2,385
2015 modern 2,865 #2,359
2016 modern 2,881 #2,336

Geography

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Where Frews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, New Monkland, Govan Combination, Glasgow and Stevenston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields, Springside and Rural, Auchinleck, Cumnock Rural and Shotts. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hamilton Lanark
2 New Monkland Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Stevenston Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields South Ayrshire
2 Springside and Rural North Ayrshire
3 Auchinleck East Ayrshire
4 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire
5 Shotts North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Frew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Frew

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Frew, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Frew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Frew household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Frew is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Frew is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Frew falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Frew 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Frew

The surname Frew originates from Scotland and has its roots in the Scottish Gaelic language. The name is believed to have emerged in the 12th century, derived from the Gaelic word "frioghan," which means "man" or "person." It is thought that the name was initially used to describe someone of a strong or manly character.

Frew is a locational surname, meaning it was originally associated with a particular place or region. In this case, it is linked to the lands of Frew, a small village located near the town of Kippen in the Stirlingshire region of central Scotland. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in charters and historical records from the 13th century, where it appeared in various spellings, such as "Frewe," "Freau," and "Frew."

One of the earliest documented references to the name Frew can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded pledges of allegiance to King Edward I of England. In this document, a person named "William de Frewe" is listed, indicating the presence of the Frew name in Scotland during that period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Frew. One such person was John Frew (1620-1688), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1675 until his death. Another prominent figure was Sir Peter Frew (1774-1842), a Scottish politician and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1819 to 1822.

In the literary world, the name Frew is associated with the Scottish author and poet, James Frew (1808-1871), who was born in Lanarkshire and is known for his works celebrating rural life in Scotland. Additionally, William Frew (1828-1909), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman, made significant contributions to the development of Victoria, Australia, in the late 19th century.

The Frew surname has also been linked to notable figures in the field of science and medicine. For example, Dr. Thomas Frew (1850-1919) was a Scottish-born Australian physician and medical researcher who made significant contributions to the study of infectious diseases in Australia.

While the Frew name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants bearing this surname found in countries like England, Ireland, Australia, and North America. However, the historical origins and significance of the name remain firmly rooted in the Scottish Highlands and the legacy of the Gaelic language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Frew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frew 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. Lanarkshire leads with 548 Frews recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.54x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 548 11.54x
Ayrshire 460 41.87x
Stirlingshire 91 16.81x
Fife 57 6.56x
Midlothian 51 2.59x
Middlesex 38 0.26x
Dunbartonshire 31 7.86x
Lancashire 30 0.17x
Renfrewshire 25 2.20x
Cumberland 16 1.27x
West Lothian 15 6.78x
Clackmannanshire 14 11.55x
Yorkshire 14 0.10x
Ross-shire 12 2.98x
Sussex 11 0.44x
Perthshire 10 1.52x
Essex 7 0.24x
Leicestershire 7 0.43x
Northumberland 7 0.32x
Surrey 7 0.10x
Angus 6 0.44x
Buteshire 5 5.62x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 2.35x
Suffolk 5 0.28x
Berwickshire 4 2.25x
Kent 4 0.08x
Dorset 3 0.31x
Durham 3 0.07x
Royal Navy 3 1.71x
Berkshire 2 0.18x
Devon 2 0.07x
Hampshire 2 0.07x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.31x
Flintshire 1 0.25x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Inverness-shire 1 0.23x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Orkney 1 0.62x
Selkirkshire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 107 Frews recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.11x.

Place Total Index
Govan 107 9.11x
Barony 80 6.66x
Stevenston 77 268.85x
Old Monkland 62 32.91x
Glasgow 61 7.24x
Hamilton 60 45.31x
Dreghorn 56 281.55x
Kilwinning 48 135.29x
Irvine 36 117.96x
Falkirk 32 25.25x
Avondale 30 108.07x
Galston 29 96.51x
Tarbolton 28 154.87x
Dalry 27 52.22x
New Monkland 25 17.81x
St Quivox 25 67.29x
Bothwell 24 18.64x
Kinghorn 24 130.08x
Beath 22 80.12x
Cambusnethan 21 19.91x
Ayr 20 38.57x
Kilsyth 20 57.94x
Kilmaurs 19 101.66x
Larbert 17 52.52x
Ardrossan 16 42.07x
Kirkintilloch 14 26.12x
Cadder 13 37.07x
Dalserf 13 27.44x
West Calder 13 33.53x
Dalmellington 12 37.14x
Kensington London 12 1.47x
Boness 11 36.09x
Riccarton Hurlford 11 57.08x
Dingwall 10 88.18x
Dunlop 10 145.99x
Lesmahagow 10 19.92x
Shotts 10 17.60x
Clackmannan 9 39.27x
Cockpen 9 39.15x
Workington 9 12.44x
Kilmarnock 8 6.12x
Carnwath 7 23.84x
Dalziel 7 13.70x
Denny 7 24.31x
Dysart 7 11.96x
Glassford 7 95.63x
Halifax 7 3.28x
Leicester St Margaret 7 1.76x
Liberton 7 23.06x
New Kilpatrick 7 18.65x
Perth West Church 7 22.39x
Prestwich 7 16.11x
Row 7 13.71x
West Greenock 7 3.43x
Cathcart 6 9.75x
Dunipace 6 63.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 0.76x
Loudoun 6 22.71x
Old Cumnock 6 24.53x
Parton 6 80.43x
Shettleston 6 14.11x
Slamannan 6 20.24x
South Leith 6 2.71x
Tynemouth 6 5.13x
West Ham 6 0.94x
Abbey 5 2.88x
Alloa 5 8.50x
Brighton 5 1.00x
Bromley London 5 1.55x
Kirkdale 5 1.71x
Sorn 5 23.17x
Bethnal Green London 4 0.63x
Chirnside 4 52.49x
Dundonald 4 9.87x
Haydock 4 13.32x
Liff Benvie 4 1.94x
Minnigaff 4 50.06x
Newton On Ayr 4 12.15x
Stair 4 85.47x
Stoke Newington London 4 3.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Annie 6
Margaret 5
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Cecilia 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Martha 2
(Mrs) 1
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elly 1
F. 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
John 1
Lucy 1
Maraget 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 18
John 12
William 8
George 7
Alexander 6
Andrew 5
Thomas 4
Walter 4
Archibald 3
David 2
Geo. 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Arthur 1
Donald 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hubert 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Theophilus 1
Waldegrave 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Frew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,517 people were recorded with the Frew surname. That placed it at #2,769 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,881 in 2016. That gives Frew a modern rank of #2,336.

What does the Frew surname mean?

A variant of the Scottish surname Frood, meaning a wise or prudent person.

What does the Frew map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Frew 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.