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The Frewend surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from a baptismal nameFrewen. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames.
The surname Frewend was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where William Frewyn, Sussex; and Ralph Frewyne, Oxfordshire were both listed as holding at that time. 1
"Several tenants prior to the Domesday Book bore it, as Frauuin, in Sussex, Frauuinus, in Devonshire, and Freowinus, in Suffolk. Its Anglo-Saxon form is Freawin, signifying 'dear or devoted to Frea.' " 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frewend research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1062, 1430, 1473, 1543, 1558, 1583, 1588, 1592, 1612, 1628, 1629, 1660, 1664, 1681, 1693, 1698 and 1761 are included under the topic Early Frewend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Frewend are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Frewend include: Frewen, Frewin, Frewyn and others.
Distinguished members of the family include John Frewen (1558-1628), English Puritan divine, descended from an old Worcestershire family, was born in 1558. 3
Accepted Frewen (1588-1664), was Archbishop of York, born in Sussex and became a fellow of Oxford in 1612. He "was the eldest son of the Rev. John Frewen [q. v.], rector of Northiam, Sussex. The family appears to have been originally of Worcestershire, as Richard Frewen, the father of John Frewen, was son of Roger Frewen, who was buried at Hanley Castle in 1543, and grandson of Richard Frewen, bailiff of Worcester in 1473. Accepted Frewen was born at...
Another 109 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Frewend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Frewend or a variant listed above: William Frewen who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1716; Patrick and John Frewen arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1866; Thomas and Mary Frewin arrived in Philadelphia in 1774..