NameCensus.

UK surname

Frier

A surname derived from the occupation of a fryer or cook.

In the 1881 census there were 604 people recorded with the Frier surname, ranking it #5,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 453, ranked #10,748, down from #5,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Eastbourne and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frier is 615 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.0%.

1881 census count

604

Ranked #5,801

Modern count

453

2016, ranked #10,748

Peak year

1891

615 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frier had 604 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016, ranked #10,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 615 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Frier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Frier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Frier 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 598 #4,284
1861 historical 587 #4,504
1881 historical 604 #5,801
1891 historical 615 #6,260
1901 historical 562 #7,419
1911 historical 473 #8,179
1997 modern 472 #9,716
1998 modern 481 #9,893
1999 modern 476 #10,026
2000 modern 478 #9,969
2001 modern 452 #10,192
2002 modern 469 #10,105
2003 modern 458 #10,136
2004 modern 454 #10,229
2005 modern 432 #10,531
2006 modern 430 #10,624
2007 modern 413 #11,100
2008 modern 419 #11,058
2009 modern 432 #11,048
2010 modern 450 #10,915
2011 modern 433 #11,116
2012 modern 442 #10,812
2013 modern 444 #10,946
2014 modern 458 #10,749
2015 modern 462 #10,619
2016 modern 453 #10,748

Geography

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Where Friers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, London parishes, St Pancras, Edinburgh and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Eastbourne, Rotherham, Bradford and Canterbury. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
2 Eastbourne 009 Eastbourne
3 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
4 Bradford 061 Bradford
5 Canterbury 014 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Frier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Frier

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Frier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Frier household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Frier 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

Frier 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

Frier 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 Frier is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Frier

The surname FRIER has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "frire," which means "to fry." This suggests that the name was initially an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked as a fryer or a cook.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname FRIER can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1170, where a certain Richard le Fryer is mentioned. This document provides evidence that the name was already in use during the 12th century.

The name FRIER is also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England. This suggests that by the 13th century, the name had become more widespread and was associated with various areas across the country.

In the 14th century, the surname FRIER appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, where a John le Fryer is recorded. This historical document sheds light on the life of an individual bearing the name during that time period.

One notable individual with the surname FRIER was Robert Frier (1513-1589), an English Protestant reformer and scholar who was a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He played a significant role in the religious and academic spheres of his time.

Another prominent figure was Sir Walter Frier (1642-1711), an English judge and Baron of the Exchequer. He served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer from 1700 until his death in 1711.

In the 18th century, John Frier (1717-1795) was a Scottish minister and author. He is known for his works on theology and his contributions to the Church of Scotland.

During the 19th century, James Frier (1824-1892) was a notable Scottish architect who designed several prominent buildings in Glasgow, including the Glasgow City Chambers and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

The surname FRIER has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Frier's Place in Kent and Frier's Gate in Yorkshire. These place names may have been derived from individuals bearing the surname or may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Frier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frier 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. Midlothian leads with 61 Friers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.75x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 61 7.75x
Lancashire 59 0.85x
Middlesex 57 0.97x
Kent 51 2.55x
Staffordshire 47 2.37x
Lanarkshire 38 2.00x
Warwickshire 33 2.23x
Worcestershire 32 4.17x
Selkirkshire 28 52.70x
Surrey 22 0.77x
Cambridgeshire 19 5.11x
Yorkshire 18 0.31x
Roxburghshire 16 15.04x
Durham 15 0.86x
Leicestershire 15 2.30x
Cheshire 10 0.77x
Flintshire 10 6.34x
Angus 6 1.10x
East Lothian 6 7.71x
Hampshire 6 0.50x
Lincolnshire 6 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.76x
Suffolk 6 0.84x
Berwickshire 5 7.03x
Huntingdonshire 5 4.29x
Northumberland 5 0.57x
Peeblesshire 4 14.48x
Wiltshire 4 0.77x
Bedfordshire 2 0.66x
Berkshire 2 0.45x
Stirlingshire 2 0.92x
Ayrshire 1 0.23x
Gloucestershire 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.22x
Somerset 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melrose in Selkirkshire leads with 23 Friers recorded in 1881 and an index of 172.03x.

Place Total Index
Melrose 23 172.03x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 6.95x
St Pancras London 21 4.44x
Birmingham 14 2.84x
West Bromwich 14 12.34x
Barony 13 2.70x
Currie 12 248.96x
St Marylebone London 12 3.83x
Thorney 12 290.56x
Chartham 11 220.44x
Govan 11 2.34x
Kingswinford 11 15.28x
Ancrum 10 362.32x
Walsall Foreign 10 9.77x
Minster In Sheppey 9 27.12x
Newington 9 4.15x
St Asaph 9 287.54x
Croydon 8 5.04x
Eccleston In Prescot 8 22.87x
Edinburgh New 8 130.93x
Hanbury 8 386.47x
Hunslet 8 8.82x
Plumstead 8 11.98x
South Shields 8 51.41x
Blackburn 7 3.78x
Dolphinton 7 1147.54x
Leverington 7 285.71x
Little Bolton 7 7.81x
New Monkland 7 12.47x
North Piddle 7 2258.06x
Warrington 7 8.47x
Barrow Upon Soar 6 111.52x
Bromley London 6 4.64x
Chadderton 6 17.61x
Dundee 6 2.95x
Haddington 6 52.26x
Himbleton 6 652.17x
Stockton On Tees 6 7.13x
Willenhall 6 16.16x
Alcester 5 102.46x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 9.53x
Chilham 5 175.44x
Edgbaston 5 10.89x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 5 26.87x
Edinburgh St Georges 5 30.62x
Elton 5 306.75x
Hougham 5 41.98x
Latchford 5 58.07x
Lauder 5 127.23x
Sheepshed 5 56.05x
Shoreditch London 5 1.96x
Tranmere 5 10.50x
Bedford 4 27.43x
Beswick 4 22.45x
Camberwell 4 1.07x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.89x
Edinburgh New North 4 58.39x
Galashiels 4 20.37x
Islington London 4 0.70x
Kilnwick Percy 4 1666.67x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.95x
Ovenden 4 15.44x
Peebles 4 49.02x
Pinchbeck 4 66.45x
Radcliffe 4 11.91x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 47.96x
Wilton 4 34.28x
Woodbridge 4 43.76x
Aston 3 0.74x
Barrow In Furness 3 3.17x
Leek Wootten 3 370.37x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.89x
Westgate 3 5.54x
Gillingham 2 4.84x
Ipswich St Helen 2 23.58x
North Stoneham 2 73.26x
Preston Next Faversham 2 42.46x
Tipton 2 3.29x
Wavertree 2 8.97x
Whistones 2 36.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 23
Mary 15
Annie 11
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Ann 8
Jane 7
Agnes 6
Emma 6
Alice 5
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Susannah 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Jeanie 2
Jessie 2
M.A. 2
Prudence 2
Rebecca 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Catherine 1
Celia 1
Elizabath 1
Elizabth 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Ingle 1
Isab. 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jennet 1
Jennie 1
Jessa 1
Ziliah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 26
Thomas 17
George 11
Charles 10
James 10
Edward 8
Henry 6
Alfred 5
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Joseph 4
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Peter 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Richard 2
Anthon. 1
Chas. 1
D.F. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ezekial 1
Francies 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Hans 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Lister 1
Mark 1
Marshall 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Noah 1
R. 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Frier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 604 people were recorded with the Frier surname. That placed it at #5,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016. That gives Frier a modern rank of #10,748.

What does the Frier surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of a fryer or cook.

What does the Frier map show?

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