Surname Fraine - Meaning and Origin

Fraine: What does the surname Fraine mean?

Fraine is an uncommon surname of French origin, derived from the Old French word 'franc' meaning 'free'. The family name was likely taken from the French term 'franci', meaning 'freemen', as it was less common among medieval feudal societies. It is believed the first known bearer of the surname was a knight who served the King of France in the 11th century.

Over time, the Fraines settled in many different parts of Europe, including Ireland, Scotland, and England. As a result, there are Fraines with a variety of national backgrounds, including Irish, Scottish, and French.

Fraine is also an Italian surname, derived from the place-name Fresno, located in the province of Varese. It is believed this branch of the Fraine family first became established in an Italian-speaking region during the 14th century.

The Fraine surname is still used today, and is found among people with a variety of national and ethnic backgrounds. Its bearer typically derives a sense of identity and pride from his or her French-origin roots, as well as those of other national origins.

Fraine: Where does the name Fraine come from?

The last name Fraine can be found mainly in countries of the British Isles. People with the surname are likely to have a British, Irish, Scottish, or Welsh descent.

In England, Fraine is most common in the West Midlands region. It is also found in some parts of East Anglia, around Exeter and the Isles of Scilly. In Scotland, it is most frequently encountered in the regions of Angus, Aberdeenshire, and Midlothian.

In Ireland, Fraine is primarily found in County Cork, but is also sometimes found in counties Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow.

In Wales, the name is localized mainly to the county of Dyfed.

Though the surname is relatively small in numbers, it is likely to be more concentrated in areas with strong British or Irish influences, such as North America and Australia. In the US, the states with the highest number of people bearing the name are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, and Ohio. In Canada, it can be found mainly in the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

The Fraine family name has been relatively consistent throughout the centuries, with records of the name dating back to the 1400s in England and Ireland. Its origin is unlikely to differ greatly, with the surname likely deriving from an Anglo-Saxon or Celtic personal name derived from an old Germanic tribal name.

Variations of the surname Fraine

The surname Fraine is derived from the Old French word ‘frain’, which means hedge or vine. It is a toponymic surname, derived from a place name. Variants and alternate spellings of this surname include Frain, Frayne, Frane, Frein, and Freine.

In some cases, Fraine has been Anglicized to ‘Free’, ‘Frye’, and ‘Fryer’. Additionally, it can also change into regionalized forms, such as ‘Freen’ in Yorkshire, ‘Freeney’ in Ireland, and ‘Freney’ in Scotland.

Another variant of Fraine is ‘Frainer’. This particular spelling was popular in Germany during the 19th century, and is still used by German speakers today.

In some cases, the French spelling of Fraine has been assimilated into its Scottish and English equivalents, ‘Frain’ or ‘Frayne’. These spellings were adopted by those of the Fraine family who moved to the British Isles from France during the Middle Ages.

Lastly, there is the alternative spelling ‘Frend’. This form was popular amongst those of the Fraine family who settled in Hesse, Germany during the 17th century.

In conclusion, the surname Fraine has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Frain, Frayne, Frane, Frein, Freine, Free, Frye, Fryer, Freen, Freeney, Freney, Frainer, and Frend.

Famous people with the name Fraine

• Karl Fraine: American Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• Emmett Fraine: stage and screen actor known for Broadway plays as well as films such as “The Magnificent Seven” and “Airplane!”
• Harry Fraine: an American football player who spent two seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
• Josh Fraine: a Canadian celebrity chef best known for his television series, “The Heat is On.”
• Benton Fraine: an American professional wrestler who wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
• Bill Fraine: an American painter known for his abstract expressionist works.
• Jenny Fraine: an award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter.
• Nell Fraine: an American author known for books such as “Up Silence Street” and “The Year of the Horseless Carriage”.
• Ray Fraine: an American television actor known for his roles in “American Geek” and “Wire in the Blood.”
• Mark Fraine: an American entrepreneur and technology innovator who co-founded the software development company Appcelerator.

Other surnames

Frain