Surname Frain - Meaning and Origin
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Frain: What does the surname Frain mean?
Frain is a surname of Old French origin. It emerged from the early medieval period, a time in history when the process of last name creation began to evolve in Europe. The meaning of Frain is derived from the old French word "fresne", meaning ash tree. Therefore, the surname Frain could have been a topographic name given to someone who lived near an ash tree or a grove of ash trees. It may have also been given as a locational name from any of the several places in France named with this word, such as Fresne-Cauverville in Eure and Fresne-l'Archevêque in Eure-et-Loir. Another possibility is that it could be an occupational name for a grower or seller of ash wood. The surname was first found in Burgundy, a historic and cultural region in east-central France, where this distinguished family was anciently seated. As with many surnames, variations of spelling can include Frain, Dufrain, Frane, Dufran, Dufraine, Fraigne, Fraigneux, Fraine, Frenne, Fresne, Fresneau, among many others.
Order DNA origin analysisFrain: Where does the name Frain come from?
The surname Frain is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English name "Fram," which means "the dweller at the farm." It's essentially derived from an occupational name for someone working on a farm and gradually became a surname. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Frame, which was dated 1230, in the "Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire", during the reign of King Henry III of England.
Frain has different variations including Frame, Freame, Fraim and more. Over the years, due to migration and settlement, the Frain surname has spread across various parts of the world. It is quite common in English-speaking countries today, especially in England and Ireland. It can also be found in the United States and Canada, among other countries. However, it is not a very frequent last name. Despite its dispersion, its density is higher in the areas where it was originated, making it more common in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern England, and in Ireland.
Variations of the surname Frain
The surname Frain is often found in English, Irish, and French ancestry. This surname may have derived from the Old French word "frene", meaning ash tree, or it could have been a nickname for a person with gray hair in Irish tradition. Some variants and similar spellings of Frain include Frean, Frayne, Frane, Freen, and Freyne.
Other possible variations for this surname could be Frame, Frein, or Freyne. Some of these variants may have originated due to differences in regional accents, dialects, or even simple misspellings. For instance, the surname Frame, commonly found in Scotland, might be a variant of Frain, particularly as it is pronounced similarly.
As part of surnames of Irish origin, the spelling O'Frain may also be possible, where "O" denotes a descendant. Frain might also be a contracted form of the Irish surname O’Firnean or O’Firnen.
In some cases, phonetic spelling taken down by English clerks resulted in many variations like Frean or Freen. Examining historical records and genealogy can often reveal these variations and deviations in the spelling of the surname Frain.
Famous people with the name Frain
- James Frain: English film, television, and stage actor
- Brian Frain: American professional golfer
- Harry Frain: American MLB player
- Rosemarie Frain: American musical theatre performer
- Brian Francis Frain: English orchestral conductor
- Thomas Frain: Canadian NHL hockey player
- Stella Frain: English actress
- John Frain: Australian author
- Gaspar Frain: Spanish playwright
- Joe Frain: Irish former professional footballer
- Jim Frain: American professional golfer
- Chris Frain: English professional football manager
- Pat Frain: American former MLB player
- Larry Frain: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Charlotte Frain: English artist and marketer