Frost History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The name Frost is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was a name for someone who was a person who was the Descendant of Frost (one born at the time of frost.) 1

"Frost is the name of a dwarf in the Scandinavian mythology, and our nursery hero, 'Jack Frost,' may be derived from that source." 2

Fancifully and less likely, it could have been a nickname for someone thought of as having a cold attitude or and icy disposition or a person may have also received this surname because of his white hair or his white beard.

Early Origins of the Frost family

The surname Frost was first found in Hampshire where William Forst was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. From this earliest record, we found about ten years later, Gilbert Frost c. 1095 in Suffolk. 3

"The name of Frost has been established in Norfolk ever since the 13th century, when the Frosts resided here in numbers. In the 15th and 16th centuries Frost was a common name amongst the Norfolk clerics. The name also occurs now in other parts of England, particularly in Derbyshire and Somerset. In the 13th century it not only characterized Norfolk but also Cambridgeshire and in a less degree Suffolk." 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Henry Frost, Norfolk; and Robert Frost, Lincolnshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes Froste; and Dionisius Frost 1370 as both holding lands there at that time. 5

The famed poet Robert Frost (1874-1963), who received four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry was born in California, but his father descended from Nicholas Frost of Tiverton, Devon who had sailed to New Hampshire in 1634 on the Wolfrana.

Early History of the Frost family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frost research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1095, 1273, 1298, 1379, 1626, 1641, 1656, 1700, 1750, 1782 and 1842 are included under the topic Early Frost History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frost Spelling Variations

Frost has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Frost have been found, including Frost, Froste and others.

Early Notables of the Frost family

Notables of the family at this time include

Frost World Ranking

In the United States, the name Frost is the 728th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Frost is ranked the 325th most popular surname with an estimated 10,930 people with that name. 7 And in New Zealand, the name Frost is the 256th popular surname with an estimated 2,375 people with that name. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Frost as 259th with 23,100 people. 9

Migration of the Frost family to Ireland

Some of the Frost family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Frost migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Frosts to arrive on North American shores:

Frost Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Frost Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Frost Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frost migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Frost Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Frost Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Frost migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Frost Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Frost migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Frost Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Frost migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19
Frost Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Frost (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Frost +
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