The surname is one of the many surnames that first came to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is derived from the Old French "fraitur," meaning "brother, friar," and was most likely first borne by one who was in charge of a monastery.
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Early Origins of the Fraiter family
The surname Fraiter was first found in the county of Yorkshire, where the name is thought to have first emerged.
Early History of the Fraiter family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fraiter research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1301, 1379, 1567, 1663 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Fraiter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Fraiter Spelling Variations
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Frater, Fraitor, Fraiter and others.
Early Notables of the Fraiter family
More information is included under the topic Early Fraiter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Fraiter family
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Fraiter or a variant listed above: Geo. Frater, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1818; Robert Frater, who was recorded in the census of Ontario of 1871; as well as Adam Frater, who was naturalized in Illinois in 1896..
