NameCensus.

UK surname

Frey

A German and French occupational surname referring to a freeman or landowner who was not a serf or slave.

In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Frey surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 210, ranked #18,965, up from #22,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ardrossan North East, Ardrossan Central and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frey is 302 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 169.2%.

1881 census count

78

Ranked #22,500

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

1891

302 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frey had 78 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 302 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Frey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Frey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Frey 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 257 #9,629
1881 historical 78 #22,500
1891 historical 302 #11,058
1901 historical 130 #19,649
1911 historical 170 #16,510
1997 modern 174 #19,231
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 159 #20,975
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 151 #21,574
2004 modern 153 #21,528
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 147 #22,510
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 210 #18,932
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

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Where Freys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ardrossan North East, Ardrossan Central, Camden, Hertsmere and Southend-on-Sea. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ardrossan North East North Ayrshire
2 Ardrossan Central North Ayrshire
3 Camden 008 Camden
4 Hertsmere 011 Hertsmere
5 Southend-on-Sea 015 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Frey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Frey

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Frey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Frey 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Frey is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Frey is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Frey falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Frey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Frey

The surname Frey originated in Germany and Switzerland, derived from the Old High German word "frī" meaning "free" or "noble." It first appeared in records around the 12th century.

The Frey name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia in southern Germany, as well as in parts of Switzerland. Early spellings included Frei, Frey, Frey, and Vry.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Mellicensis, a medieval manuscript from the Melk Abbey in Austria, which mentions a person named Fridericus Frey in the year 1156.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Codex Traditionum Ecclesiae Collegiatae Sancti Petri Bambergensis, a record of the Bamberg Cathedral in Germany, where a person named Heinricus Frey was listed in 1244.

The Frey surname was also present in Switzerland, with records showing a Ulricus Frey in the city of Zürich in 1357. Other early Swiss examples include Johannes Frey from Bern in 1389 and Chuonradus Frey from Lucerne in 1420.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Frey surname was Johann Frey (1465-1523), a German Renaissance scholar and humanist who taught at the University of Tübingen.

Another prominent figure was Hieronymus Frey (1595-1675), a Swiss Protestant theologian and author who served as a professor at the University of Basel.

In the 18th century, Johann Frey (1716-1786) was a Swiss painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural works.

The 19th century saw Johann Jakob Frey (1813-1865), a Swiss politician and historian who served as the President of the Swiss National Council.

A more recent example is the American author and essayist Nancy Frey (born 1945), known for her works on education and literacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Frey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frey 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. Middlesex leads with 27 Freys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 3.59x
Lancashire 12 1.35x
Sussex 8 6.32x
Surrey 7 1.91x
Yorkshire 7 0.94x
Kent 6 2.34x
Devon 2 1.28x
Hampshire 2 1.30x
Northumberland 2 1.79x
Staffordshire 2 0.79x
Herefordshire 1 3.25x
Wiltshire 1 1.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cuckfield in Sussex leads with 8 Freys recorded in 1881 and an index of 625.00x.

Place Total Index
Cuckfield 8 625.00x
Mile End Old Town London 7 43.78x
Oldham 7 24.33x
Sculcoates 6 50.85x
Hackney London 5 11.87x
Speldhurst 5 384.62x
Putney 4 116.96x
Paddington London 3 10.86x
St Pancras London 3 4.96x
Barnes 2 129.03x
Ford 2 487.80x
Shoreditch London 2 6.14x
Ventnor 2 136.99x
Wolverhampton 2 10.26x
Brightside Bierlow 1 6.85x
Brokenborough 1 1000.00x
Burghill 1 285.71x
Chelsea London 1 4.42x
Exeter St Stephen 1 1250.00x
Farnham 1 35.09x
Frindsbury 1 103.09x
Kirkdale 1 6.67x
Liverpool 1 1.85x
Plymouth Charles The 1 14.51x
St George Hanover Square 1 7.56x
St George In East London 1 14.16x
St Luke London 1 8.30x
St Marylebone London 1 2.49x
Stoke Newington London 1 17.09x
Stretford 1 20.41x
Westminster St Margaret 1 27.62x
Windle 1 19.96x
Wrightington 1 256.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Ruth 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Betty 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Emilie 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Marianne 1
Nanne 1
Olive 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Frey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Frey surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Frey a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Frey surname mean?

A German and French occupational surname referring to a freeman or landowner who was not a serf or slave.

What does the Frey map show?

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