UK surname
A surname derived from the German word "frisch," meaning fresh or new.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Frish surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Wigan and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frish is 151 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.4%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
151 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Frish surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Frish surname density by area, 1891 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 | 94 | #17,837 |
| 1861 | historical | 151 | #15,209 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 148 | #18,506 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 21 | #31,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Wigan, St Marylebone, Bradford and St Mary Islington. 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 | Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors | Shropshire |
| 2 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Frish 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 Frish, 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 Frish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Frish 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, Frish 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 Frish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Frish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Frish has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "frisch," meaning fresh or vigorous. It may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname or as a reference to a person's youthful appearance or energetic demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Frish can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the Holy Roman Empire. The name appears in a document dated 1187, referring to a landowner named Heinrich Frisch.
In the 13th century, the Frish name was particularly prominent in the region of Saxony. Records show that a family bearing this surname owned several estates in the area around the city of Leipzig. One notable member of this family was Johannes Frisch, a respected scholar and theologian who lived from 1245 to 1314.
The Frish surname has also been associated with several place names throughout Germany. For instance, the town of Frischenau in Lower Saxony may have derived its name from the presence of families bearing the Frish surname in the area during the Middle Ages.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Hans Frisch (1490-1564) made significant contributions to the field of horticulture. He is credited with introducing various new plant species to Germany and publishing one of the earliest works on gardening techniques.
Another notable individual with the Frish surname was Johann Leonhard Frisch (1666-1743), a German entomologist and naturalist. His extensive studies on insects and their behavior were groundbreaking for the time and earned him recognition throughout Europe.
During the 18th century, the Frish name gained prominence in the arts and literature. Johann Christoph Friedrich Frisch (1738-1815) was a renowned German playwright and poet, whose works often explored themes of social commentary and satire.
In the realm of music, Johann Friedrich Frisch (1759-1833) was a respected composer and violinist. He served as the court musician for several German princes and composed numerous orchestral works that were widely performed during his lifetime.
Throughout its long history, the surname Frish has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, scientists, artists, and nobility. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since evolved into a distinctive surname that continues to be prominent in German-speaking regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frish 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. Middlesex leads with 12 Frishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 12 | 3.24x |
| Surrey | 9 | 4.99x |
| Devon | 5 | 6.48x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.09x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.46x |
| Sussex | 2 | 3.20x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 13.50x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.92x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.79x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 4.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Esher in Surrey leads with 7 Frishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2800.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Esher | 7 | 2800.00x |
| Bow London | 5 | 105.93x |
| Islington London | 5 | 13.93x |
| Offwell | 5 | 12500.00x |
| Saddleworth | 4 | 141.34x |
| Alfriston | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Cottered | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Croydon | 1 | 9.98x |
| Llanfihangel Talyllyn | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Putney | 1 | 59.17x |
| Salford | 1 | 7.73x |
| Snodland | 1 | 277.78x |
| St Lawrence Jewry London | 1 | 10000.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.06x |
| Steeple Barton | 1 | 833.33x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 6.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Frish 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 Frish 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 Frish households.
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Frish surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Frish a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname derived from the German word "frisch," meaning fresh or new.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Frish 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.