UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a fryer, one who fried or cooked food.
In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Fryar surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 68, ranked #33,826, down from #20,127 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Shoebury, South, Lewisham and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fryar is 143 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.9%.
1881 census count
97
Ranked #20,127
Modern count
68
2016, ranked #33,826
Peak year
1861
143 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fryar surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fryar surname density by area, 1901 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 | 116 | #15,545 |
| 1861 | historical | 143 | #15,906 |
| 1881 | historical | 97 | #20,127 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 70 | #25,853 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 58 | #32,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 59 | #32,080 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 53 | #33,336 |
| 2005 | modern | 47 | #34,011 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 51 | #34,751 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 64 | #34,141 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 68 | #33,826 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Shoebury, South, Lewisham, Newcastle All Saints, Youlgrave and Stranraer. 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 | Shoebury, South | Essex |
| 2 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Youlgrave | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Stranraer | Wigtown |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fryar 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 Fryar, 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 Fryar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fryar 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, Fryar 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 Fryar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fryar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fryar is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "frere," which means "friar" or "brother." This name was often given to individuals who had some association with a monastic order or lived near a monastery.
In medieval England, the surname Fryar was commonly found in areas with a strong monastic presence, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1195, where a person named "Robert le Frere" is mentioned.
The surname Fryar also appears in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document records a person named "Ailric Frere" as a landowner in Oxfordshire.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname Fryar was sometimes spelled as "Fryer" or "Frier," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. In the 16th century, the name was often associated with individuals involved in the brewing or baking trades, as the term "friar" was also used to refer to a type of baker or brewer.
One notable individual with the surname Fryar was John Fryar (c. 1505-1584), an English Protestant reformer and Church of England clergyman. He served as the Bishop of Gloucester from 1576 until his death.
Another prominent figure was Sir Jasper Fryar (1609-1671), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1666, during the Great Fire of London.
In the 18th century, William Fryar (1700-1784) was a renowned English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford.
Thomas Fryar (1801-1876) was a British naval officer and explorer who conducted surveys and explorations in the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic regions.
Lastly, John Fryar (1869-1942) was an English footballer who played as a forward and represented England at the international level in the late 19th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fryar 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. Kent leads with 20 Fryars recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 20 | 6.20x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.16x |
| Northumberland | 10 | 7.11x |
| Somerset | 9 | 5.91x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 5.49x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.13x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.30x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.92x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 3.24x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.55x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 2.06x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.94x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.02x |
| Huntingdonshire | 2 | 10.65x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.54x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.63x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 7.96x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warrington in Lancashire leads with 12 Fryars recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warrington | 12 | 90.16x |
| Lewisham | 9 | 52.30x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 8 | 235.29x |
| Mansfield Woodhouse | 7 | 823.53x |
| Bedlington | 6 | 127.66x |
| Hartlepool | 6 | 150.00x |
| Bath St Peter St Paul | 5 | 746.27x |
| Newington | 5 | 14.31x |
| Bromsgrove | 4 | 96.15x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 3 | 80.00x |
| Hemington | 3 | 1578.95x |
| Southampton St Mary | 3 | 24.61x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 16.60x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 2 | 23.78x |
| Newcastle Under Lyme | 2 | 35.40x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 2 | 23.07x |
| Seaton Delaval | 2 | 161.29x |
| Stilton | 2 | 952.38x |
| Charlcombe | 1 | 500.00x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 29.67x |
| Denby | 1 | 222.22x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 5.24x |
| Hastings St Andrew | 1 | 175.44x |
| Hunstanton | 1 | 204.08x |
| Kingswinford | 1 | 8.63x |
| Lee | 1 | 21.32x |
| Leyton | 1 | 31.06x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 10.41x |
| Nantwich | 1 | 41.15x |
| Richmond | 1 | 15.48x |
| Stranraer | 1 | 86.96x |
| West Derby | 1 | 3.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fryar 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 Fryar 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 Fryar households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Laundress | 4 |
| Joiner | 3 |
| At School | 2 |
| Lab | 2 |
| Provision Dealer | 2 |
| Sch | 2 |
| Teacher | 2 |
| Bath Chairman (Wheel) | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Builders Aprentice | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butchers Assistant | 1 |
| Clerk At Engine Shed | 1 |
| Coal Screener At Colly | 1 |
| Confectioner Appren | 1 |
| Decorators Clerk | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm (Blff) | 1 |
| File Cutter Ma | 1 |
| Fish Monger | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Journeyman Tailor | 1 |
| Labourer (Gen) | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| Miller (Corn) | 1 |
| Mining Engineer | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Retd Watch Guilder (M A) | 1 |
| Ropemaker | 1 |
| Staff Serjt 4 R L Militia | 1 |
| Superannuated Sarj Of Police | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Fryar surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 68 in 2016. That gives Fryar a modern rank of #33,826.
An occupational surname referring to a fryer, one who fried or cooked food.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fryar 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.