UK surname
A surname derived from the town name Frome, located in Somerset, England.
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Frome surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 60, ranked #34,340, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Waltham St Lawrence, London parishes and Wyke Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frome is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.9%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
60
2016, ranked #34,340
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Frome surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Frome surname density by area, 1861 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 | 47 | #24,810 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 62 | #27,252 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 47 | #34,011 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 63 | #34,002 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 64 | #34,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 62 | #34,233 |
| 2016 | modern | 60 | #34,340 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Waltham St Lawrence, London parishes, Wyke Regis, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Liverpool. 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 | Waltham St Lawrence | Berkshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Wyke Regis | Dorset |
| 4 | Harrow-on-the-Hill | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Frome 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 Frome, 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 Frome surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Frome 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, Frome 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 Frome is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Frome, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Frome is of English origin, deriving from the town of Frome in Somerset, England. The name is thought to have originated in the late Anglo-Saxon period, around the 9th or 10th century, when surnames began to emerge as a way of identifying individuals beyond just their given names.
The town of Frome itself takes its name from the River Frome, which flows through the area. The river's name is believed to come from the Celtic word "frâ," meaning "fair" or "fine." This suggests that the surname Frome may have originally referred to someone who lived near or associated with the River Frome.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Frome appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Ailric de Froma, indicating that the surname was already in use by the late 11th century.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Frome continued to be associated with the town and surrounding areas of Somerset. In the 13th century, a notable figure named Walter de Froma served as the Abbot of Glastonbury, one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in England at the time.
During the Tudor period, a family named Frome rose to prominence in the city of Bristol. Robert Frome, born around 1460, was a successful merchant and served as Mayor of Bristol in 1507. His son, John Frome, born in 1495, followed in his footsteps and also held the position of Mayor of Bristol in 1542.
In the 17th century, a clergyman named Robert Frome made significant contributions to the Church of England. Born in 1624, he served as the Archdeacon of Bath from 1677 until his death in 1697. He was known for his writings on theology and his efforts to promote education in the region.
Another notable individual with the surname Frome was Samuel Frome, born in 1742 in Somerset. He was a prominent lawyer and served as the Recorder of Bristol, a judicial position responsible for overseeing the city's legal proceedings.
Throughout its history, the surname Frome has also been spelled in various ways, including Frowme, Froom, and Frohme, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common in earlier periods. However, the core spelling of Frome has remained consistent and continues to be associated with the town and region in Somerset, England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frome 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 16 Fromes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.19x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 16 | 2.19x |
| Surrey | 14 | 3.93x |
| Somerset | 7 | 5.94x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.69x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 3.25x |
| Berkshire | 5 | 9.11x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 2.02x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 2.67x |
| Dorset | 2 | 4.17x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.80x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.28x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.64x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 4.61x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.79x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.70x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.92x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 7 Fromes recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedminster | 7 | 63.29x |
| Aston | 5 | 9.84x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 7.84x |
| Ewell | 4 | 533.33x |
| Bilston | 3 | 62.63x |
| Edmonton | 3 | 50.93x |
| Faccombe | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 9.46x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 3 | 20.38x |
| Stoke Newington London | 3 | 52.63x |
| Hanwell | 2 | 153.85x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 17.41x |
| St Anne Soho London | 2 | 47.85x |
| West Derby | 2 | 7.87x |
| West Woodhay | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Wimbledon | 2 | 50.00x |
| Allington | 1 | 232.56x |
| Andover | 1 | 70.42x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 8.47x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.63x |
| Bristol Temple | 1 | 106.38x |
| Broughton In Salford | 1 | 12.59x |
| Burbage | 1 | 303.03x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 1 | 17.30x |
| Cheriton | 1 | 98.04x |
| Dunstable | 1 | 86.21x |
| East Cliffe | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Everton | 1 | 3.61x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.44x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.46x |
| Llandough Juxta Cardiff | 1 | 769.23x |
| Maiden Newton | 1 | 500.00x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 1 | 15.38x |
| Reading St Giles | 1 | 18.55x |
| Rusholme | 1 | 43.10x |
| Shalbourn | 1 | 476.19x |
| St Andrew | 1 | 344.83x |
| St Dionis Backchurch | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Tipton | 1 | 13.23x |
| White Waltham | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Frome 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 Frome 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 Frome households.
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Frome surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 60 in 2016. That gives Frome a modern rank of #34,340.
A surname derived from the town name Frome, located in Somerset, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Frome 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.