NameCensus.

UK surname

Frisby

Derived from a place name meaning "farmstead of a man called Fritheburg" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,296 people recorded with the Frisby surname, ranking it #3,160 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,319, ranked #4,551, down from #3,160 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Crowland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, South Kesteven and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frisby is 1,625 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.8%.

1881 census count

1,296

Ranked #3,160

Modern count

1,319

2016, ranked #4,551

Peak year

1911

1,625 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frisby had 1,296 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,160 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,319 in 2016, ranked #4,551.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,625 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Frisby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Frisby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Frisby 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 746 #3,543
1861 historical 863 #3,210
1881 historical 1,296 #3,160
1891 historical 1,396 #3,119
1901 historical 1,592 #3,244
1911 historical 1,625 #2,990
1997 modern 1,442 #4,047
1998 modern 1,466 #4,131
1999 modern 1,458 #4,176
2000 modern 1,425 #4,236
2001 modern 1,391 #4,241
2002 modern 1,427 #4,226
2003 modern 1,390 #4,243
2004 modern 1,370 #4,305
2005 modern 1,349 #4,313
2006 modern 1,361 #4,289
2007 modern 1,376 #4,287
2008 modern 1,351 #4,370
2009 modern 1,387 #4,362
2010 modern 1,401 #4,401
2011 modern 1,360 #4,463
2012 modern 1,326 #4,492
2013 modern 1,344 #4,514
2014 modern 1,342 #4,542
2015 modern 1,326 #4,558
2016 modern 1,319 #4,551

Geography

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Where Frisbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Crowland, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Syston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, South Kesteven, Peterborough, Bolsover and South Holland. 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 3
2 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
3 Crowland Northamptonshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Syston Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
2 South Kesteven 015 South Kesteven
3 Peterborough 005 Peterborough
4 Bolsover 008 Bolsover
5 South Holland 010 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Frisby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Frisby

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Frisby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Frisby 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Frisby is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Frisby is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Frisby falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Frisby 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 Frisby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Frisby

The surname Frisby has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Frisby, which is found in several counties across the country, including Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Gloucestershire. The name is thought to have its roots in the Old English words "frisc" and "by," which together mean "fresh settlement" or "fresh village."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Frisby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Frisebi" in the county of Lincolnshire. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and place names across England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Peter de Friseby, who held lands in Leicestershire in 1235. Another notable figure bearing this surname was John Frisby, a prominent clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Leicester in the late 14th century.

During the 16th century, the Frisby name gained prominence with the birth of John Frisby (1521-1570), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. He played a significant role in the affairs of his local community and left a lasting legacy.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including the parish registers of Lincolnshire, where a William Frisby was recorded as a landowner in the village of Frisby in 1612.

Moving into the 18th century, one notable figure was James Frisby (1731-1802), an English artist and engraver known for his intricate works depicting architectural subjects and landscapes.

The 19th century saw the birth of Sir Edgar Frisby (1869-1941), a highly decorated British Army officer who served in the Boer War and World War I, earning numerous accolades for his bravery and leadership.

Throughout its history, the surname Frisby has been associated with various locations across England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Gloucestershire. While the spelling has remained relatively consistent over time, variations such as Frysbie and Friseby have also been documented in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Frisby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frisby 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. Leicestershire leads with 251 Frisbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.92x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 251 17.92x
Northamptonshire 187 15.74x
Lincolnshire 164 8.12x
Middlesex 155 1.23x
Surrey 102 1.66x
Nottinghamshire 79 4.64x
Yorkshire 69 0.55x
Rutland 51 54.99x
Derbyshire 35 1.77x
Warwickshire 30 0.94x
Kent 29 0.67x
Essex 25 1.00x
Cambridgeshire 21 2.62x
Staffordshire 17 0.40x
Huntingdonshire 15 5.98x
Sussex 10 0.47x
Worcestershire 8 0.48x
Devon 7 0.27x
Lancashire 6 0.04x
Shropshire 6 0.55x
Berkshire 4 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.52x
Cheshire 4 0.14x
Dorset 4 0.48x
Somerset 4 0.20x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Hertfordshire 2 0.23x
Wiltshire 2 0.18x
Denbighshire 1 0.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 59 Frisbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.27x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 59 17.27x
Crowland 41 323.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 34 13.38x
St Pancras London 25 2.46x
Syston 24 183.07x
Peterborough 23 26.73x
Bermondsey 22 5.85x
Leicester St Mary 22 19.44x
Northampton All Sts 22 54.56x
Stamford St John 21 769.23x
Birmingham 18 1.70x
Baston 17 507.46x
Leeds 15 2.12x
Orton Waterville 15 1119.40x
Wortley In Bramley 15 15.13x
Chatham 14 11.81x
Helpstone 14 456.03x
St Marythe Less 14 288.07x
Loughborough 13 20.45x
Nottingham St Mary 13 2.95x
St George Hanover Square 13 5.84x
Deeping St James 12 168.07x
Mansfield 12 20.37x
Mile End Old Town London 12 4.46x
Oakham Deanshold 12 289.86x
Carlton 11 56.61x
Islington London 11 0.90x
Long Buckby 11 100.09x
Northampton Priory St 11 15.43x
Whitechapel London 11 8.83x
Wing 11 797.10x
Branston 10 917.43x
Hammersmith London 10 3.21x
Kilsby 10 386.10x
Lambeth 10 0.91x
Maxey 10 380.23x
Chingford 9 149.75x
Moulton 9 136.16x
Ragdale 9 2045.45x
St Andrew Holborn London 9 16.46x
Sturry 9 176.47x
Wymeswold 9 222.22x
Bourn 8 49.02x
Eckington 8 16.65x
Rotherby 8 1142.86x
Spittlegate 8 28.63x
Staines 8 40.00x
Stamford St George 8 88.11x
Teigh 8 1403.51x
Walthamstow 8 8.91x
Battersea 7 1.51x
Great Weldon 7 542.64x
Hampstead London 7 3.56x
Heckmondwike 7 17.39x
Newington 7 1.50x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 11.58x
Rothwell 7 58.68x
Shirland 7 47.33x
Thornhill 7 19.16x
Uppingham 7 63.29x
West Bromwich 7 2.87x
Wimbledon 7 10.13x
Bromley London 6 2.16x
Cransley 6 425.53x
Dudley 6 2.99x
Knossington 6 476.19x
Litchurch 6 7.54x
Long Ditton 6 59.70x
Naseby 6 227.27x
Nether Hallam 6 3.54x
Northampton St Giles 6 13.26x
Rotherhithe 6 3.84x
Stoodleigh 6 315.79x
Swinford 6 344.83x
Gaddesby 5 480.77x
Harringworth 5 316.46x
Hickling 5 233.64x
North Collingham 5 124.69x
Stamford All Sts 5 44.21x
Wysall 5 442.48x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 77
William 71
Thomas 47
George 45
Charles 36
Henry 36
James 30
Samuel 25
Joseph 21
Edward 20
Alfred 17
Arthur 14
Frederick 13
Robert 13
Walter 12
Harry 9
Frank 8
Richard 8
Albert 6
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
Fredk. 5
David 4
Fred 4
Herbert 4
Matthew 4
Jonathan 3
Amos 2
Elisha 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Ison 2
Mark 2
Nathaniel 2
Saml. 2
Albion 1
Archie 1
Chas.E. 1
Daniel 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Enoch 1
Enos 1
Ezra 1
Hezekiah 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Zaccheus 1

FAQ

Frisby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frisby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,296 people were recorded with the Frisby surname. That placed it at #3,160 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frisby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,319 in 2016. That gives Frisby a modern rank of #4,551.

What does the Frisby surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "farmstead of a man called Fritheburg" in Old English.

What does the Frisby map show?

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