UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old French word "frise" meaning a shaggy woolen cloth.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Frieze surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 81, ranked #32,971, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frieze is 158 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 131.4%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
81
2016, ranked #32,971
Peak year
1901
158 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Frieze surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Frieze 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 | 4 | #32,658 |
| 1861 | historical | 5 | #33,418 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 93 | #24,965 |
| 1901 | historical | 158 | #17,507 |
| 1911 | historical | 120 | #20,447 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 86 | #29,343 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 85 | #29,867 |
| 2003 | modern | 82 | #30,206 |
| 2004 | modern | 79 | #30,799 |
| 2005 | modern | 80 | #30,842 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 74 | #32,190 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 79 | #32,759 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 77 | #33,124 |
| 2013 | modern | 83 | #32,813 |
| 2014 | modern | 85 | #32,743 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 81 | #32,971 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Manchester, Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff St John and St Mary. 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 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Cardiff St John and St Mary | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Frieze 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 Frieze, 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 Frieze surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Frieze 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, Frieze 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 Frieze is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Frieze, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "FRIEZE" is of Old French origin, derived from the Old French word "frise" meaning "frieze" or "cloth border." The name likely originated in the 12th or 13th century in Northern France, where textile manufacturing and trade were prevalent.
The name may have initially referred to a person who produced or sold fringed cloth or borders, as these were highly valued decorative elements in medieval textiles. Alternatively, some sources suggest the name could have been an occupational surname for a sculptor or mason who carved decorative friezes on buildings or monuments.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a "William le Frize" is mentioned in Oxfordshire, England. This suggests that the name had already migrated to England by the 13th century.
In the 14th century, a "John Fryse" is recorded in the Poll Tax returns for Yorkshire in 1379, indicating the variant spelling "Fryse" was also in use during this time period.
Notable individuals bearing the surname "FRIEZE" throughout history include:
1. John Frieze (1619-1677), an English Puritan clergyman and author of religious works. 2. Henry Simonds Frieze (1817-1889), an American educator and the second president of the University of Michigan. 3. Robert Frieze (1804-1856), an English architect and surveyor known for his work in Nottinghamshire. 4. James Frieze (1808-1884), a British Wesleyan Methodist minister and author. 5. William Frieze (1791-1858), a British landscape painter and member of the Royal Watercolour Society.
The surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Frieze Hill in Oxfordshire, England, and Friezland in West Yorkshire, England, further indicating the geographical spread and historical significance of the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frieze 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. Yorkshire leads with 12 Friezes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 12 | 3.55x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 10.10x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.76x |
| Somerset | 5 | 9.10x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 4.48x |
| Pembrokeshire | 2 | 18.45x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 12 Friezes recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 12 | 62.86x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 6 | 105.08x |
| St Botolph Aldgate London | 6 | 857.14x |
| Bedminster | 5 | 96.90x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 3 | 47.62x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 2 | 142.86x |
| Stowford | 1 | 2000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Frieze 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 Frieze 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 Frieze households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Tailor | 4 |
| Tailoress | 3 |
| Cattle Drover | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cork Merchants Assistant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lighterman | 1 |
| Mill Sawyer | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Frieze surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 81 in 2016. That gives Frieze a modern rank of #32,971.
An English surname derived from the Old French word "frise" meaning a shaggy woolen cloth.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Frieze 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.