Frayne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Frayne surname comes from the name of the village of Fresne, which was in the province of Bourgogne. During the late Middle Ages in France, as hereditary surnames began to be adopted names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread; sometimes these names could proprietorship of the village or estate.
Early Origins of the Frayne family
The surname Frayne was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France, where this family has held a family seat since ancient times. The name is derived from the Old French word for "ash" as in Ash tree from the Latin: fraxinus.
Throughout the centuries the family prospered, and branched to several regions in France. One branch originated from Artois, where Thibaut, Sieur of Fresnes, was a servant to the Duke of Bourgogne in 1358. Members were acknowledged and honored for their outstanding service. Colart de Fresne was a knight in 1410. Claude de Fresne was Lord of Fresne and Fleurey in 1472.
Among his descendants were: Étienne, who was titled Knight of Malta, and, in recognition of his outstanding service on the battlefield, was promoted to Commander of Vaufranche in Berry in the 15th century; Chretien, Captain of one hundred soldiers, who was killed at the Battle of Saint-Quentin; François, Captain of Montbard; another François who was a battle marshal in 1652, then became Captain of the Château of Montreal; and René, who was a ship's captain.
Adding to the mentioned members who proudly carried this name are Barthélemy, who became the Canon of Autun in 1404, Jean, who was a skilled horseman and became the Lord of Saint-Albin, and Philibert, who was in charge of the Château of Semur-en-Brionnais. This esteemed family held the titles of the Barons and Counts of Fresne, and the Barons of Saint-Beury and Villiers, as well as holding a fair number of fiefs. Today, the province of Bourgogne is especially proud of being associated with a dedicated family.
Early History of the Frayne family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frayne research. Another 40 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1253, 1315, 1610 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Frayne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Frayne Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Fresne, du Fresne, Frayne, du Frayne, Fresnes, Fraynes, Dufresne, Dufresnes, Dufrayne, Dufraynes, Frene, Frenes, Frane, Franes, du Frene, du Frenes, du Frane, du Franes, Dufrene, Dufrenes, Dufrane, Dufranes, Fraines, Fraine, Freyne, Freynes, Frenne, Frennes, Fresnne, Fresnnes, Fresnais, Fraigne and many more.
Early Notables of the Frayne family
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Frayne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Frayne migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Frayne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- James Frayne, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 1
- William Frayne, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 1
Frayne migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Frayne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Michael Frayne, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Himalaya" in 1849 2
- John Frayne, aged 25, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Wanderer" in 1851 3
- Richard Frayne, aged 18, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Wanderer" in 1851 3
- John Frayne, aged 25, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Wanderer" 3
- Richard Frayne, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Wanderer" 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Frayne (post 1700) +
- George Frayne IV (1944-2021), American country singer and keyboardist for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
- Shawn Frayne, American inventor of the Windbelt, winner of the 2007 Breakthrough Award from the publishers of the magazine, Popular Mechanics
- John G. Frayne (1894-1990), American physicist and sound engineer, awarded a Gordon E. Sawyer Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1983
- Evan Frayne, American actor, known for Crime (2008), Basket Casket (2008) and When Jesse Was Born (2005)
- Henry David Frayne (b. 1965), Irish-American musician
- Hilary Mary Frayne CM CVO OOnt (b. 1942), birth name of Hilary Mary Weston, Irish-born, Canadian 26th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1997-2002)
- Steve Frayne (b. 1982), English magician who performs under the stage-name of Dynamo
- Alex Frayne, British-born, Australian film director
- The Very Rev David Frayne MA (b. 1992), English clergyman, Provost of Blackburn
- Henry Frayne (b. 1990), Australian track and field athlete who competes in triple jump and long jump, nephew of Bruce Frayne
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Citations +
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The HIMALAYA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Himalaya.htm
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WANDERER 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Wanderer.htm