NameCensus.

UK surname

Fryatt

An English occupational surname referring to someone whose occupation was frying foods.

In the 1881 census there were 234 people recorded with the Fryatt surname, ranking it #11,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 586, ranked #8,873, up from #11,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Witham, London parishes and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Hambleton and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fryatt is 635 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 150.4%.

1881 census count

234

Ranked #11,607

Modern count

586

2016, ranked #8,873

Peak year

2002

635 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fryatt had 234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 586 in 2016, ranked #8,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 411 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fryatt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fryatt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fryatt 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 234 #11,607
1891 historical 279 #11,698
1901 historical 367 #10,076
1911 historical 411 #9,112
1997 modern 569 #8,454
1998 modern 614 #8,252
1999 modern 623 #8,224
2000 modern 629 #8,150
2001 modern 610 #8,193
2002 modern 635 #8,120
2003 modern 616 #8,159
2004 modern 606 #8,286
2005 modern 587 #8,402
2006 modern 611 #8,170
2007 modern 604 #8,310
2008 modern 608 #8,320
2009 modern 607 #8,517
2010 modern 631 #8,449
2011 modern 607 #8,613
2012 modern 592 #8,696
2013 modern 597 #8,782
2014 modern 596 #8,843
2015 modern 595 #8,786
2016 modern 586 #8,873

Geography

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Where Fryatts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Witham, London parishes, Auckland St Andrew, Eccles and White Notley, Black Notley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Hambleton and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Witham Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 White Notley, Black Notley Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 023 Sheffield
2 Hambleton 006 Hambleton
3 Hambleton 009 Hambleton
4 Hambleton 007 Hambleton
5 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fryatt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fryatt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fryatt, 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 Fryatt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fryatt 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, Fryatt 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

Fryatt is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fryatt falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fryatt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fryatt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fryatt

The surname FRYATT originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "frig" or "frye," meaning "free" or "freeman," and "hyat," meaning a hedge or enclosure. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a hedge or enclosure and was a free person, not bound to a feudal lord.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, one of the earliest records of English surnames, the name appears as "Frehyat." Over time, spelling variations emerged, including Fryett, Friett, Fryat, and eventually Fryatt.

The Fryatt name has been found in various historical documents and records across England. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297 mention a John Fryat. Additionally, the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 include a Thomas Fryatt.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Fryatt, who was born in Yorkshire around 1450. He was a landowner and held property in the village of Scrayingham.

In the 16th century, the Fryatt family had established roots in the county of Norfolk. William Fryatt, born in 1522 in Aylsham, Norfolk, was a prominent merchant and alderman in the town.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain Robert Fryatt from Suffolk fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He was present at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

In the 18th century, the Fryatt name gained recognition through the works of John Fryatt, a renowned engraver and artist. Born in 1700 in London, he is best known for his engravings of architectural subjects and landscapes.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Fryatt, born in 1765 in Lincolnshire. She was a pioneer in the field of education and founded several schools for underprivileged children in the county.

The 19th century saw the birth of Charles Fryatt, a merchant navy officer who became a celebrated figure during World War I. Born in 1872 in Southampton, he was the captain of the British steamer Brussels, which was captured and sunk by the Germans in 1916. Fryatt was executed by the Germans for attempting to ram a U-boat, an act that was seen as a violation of international law at the time. His execution caused international outrage and made him a martyr in Britain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fryatt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fryatt 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. Essex leads with 90 Fryatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.98x.

County Total Index
Essex 90 19.98x
Norfolk 30 8.55x
Middlesex 27 1.18x
Kent 26 3.34x
Suffolk 20 7.19x
Hampshire 12 2.57x
Surrey 10 0.90x
Northumberland 7 2.06x
Lancashire 6 0.22x
Yorkshire 3 0.13x
Bedfordshire 2 1.69x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Witham in Essex leads with 17 Fryatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 732.76x.

Place Total Index
Witham 17 732.76x
White Notley 13 3611.11x
Cressing 11 2619.05x
Letheringham 11 6875.00x
St Pancras London 11 5.99x
Downham Market 10 414.94x
Charlton Next Woolwich 9 110.84x
Chelmsford 9 116.43x
Rivenhall 9 1666.67x
Great Braxted 8 2758.62x
Hazeleigh 8 8000.00x
Heston 8 105.54x
Leyton Low 8 87.34x
Little Bealings 8 4444.44x
Longbenton 7 48.68x
Southampton St Mary 7 23.79x
Milton In Gravesend 6 51.37x
Billington 5 450.45x
Portsea 5 5.45x
Stradsett 5 4545.45x
Terrington St Clement 5 314.47x
Woolwich 5 17.38x
Battersea 4 4.76x
Camberwell 4 2.74x
Greenwich 4 11.01x
Marham 4 677.97x
Fordham 3 2142.86x
Tockwith 3 666.67x
Bradwell By Coggleshall 2 1000.00x
Great Coggeshall 2 85.47x
Harwich St Nicholas 2 57.47x
Kempston 2 74.63x
Shoreditch London 2 2.02x
Stow Bardolph 2 192.31x
Willesden 2 9.29x
Beckenham 1 9.82x
Caterham 1 20.33x
Earsham 1 208.33x
Gravesend 1 15.17x
Hammersmith London 1 1.78x
Heap 1 6.96x
Hubberston 1 94.34x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 10.60x
Islington London 1 0.45x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.74x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.06x
Paddington London 1 1.19x
Waltham Holy Cross 1 23.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 11
Emma 6
Ada 5
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Minnie 3
Selina 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Sophia 2
Susanna 2
Agnes 1
Alace 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lillie 1
Mahala 1
Maria 1
Matha 1
Mercy 1
Minci 1
Nelly 1
Olivet 1
Rebecca 1
Rosana 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 12
Arthur 8
George 8
Charles 7
James 6
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
David 4
Henry 3
Richard 3
Anthony 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Chalk 1
Denis 1
Edgar 1
Ellis 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Jeffery 1
Jno. 1
Oliver 1
Robert 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Fryatt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fryatt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 234 people were recorded with the Fryatt surname. That placed it at #11,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fryatt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 586 in 2016. That gives Fryatt a modern rank of #8,873.

What does the Fryatt surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone whose occupation was frying foods.

What does the Fryatt map show?

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