Show ContentsFrayn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Frayn Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Frayn

What does the name Frayn mean?

The ancient surname Frayn derived its origin from the Old French word fraisne, fresne which means ‘ash-tree’ which denotes 'dweller by an ash-tree’ 1 There are numerous spelling variations from this root.

Another source claims the name is from Fresnay, Normandy as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Roger de Fresnay living there in 1180. Robert and Roger de Fraisnio were later recorded in 1198. 2

Early Origins of the Frayn family

The surname Frayn was first found in Suffolk where Williara de Fraisn was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1156. A few years later, Thomas del Freisn was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Herefordshire in 1206 and in London, early rolls there show Peter de Frane in 1228. Cristina Freen was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 list William a la Freyne in Oxfordshire. John del Freyn was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1280. 1

The variants Franey, Freeney and others have the same root origin, but early rolls have typically listed separate entries. By example, William de Freisneto, de Fraisneto was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1170 and 1176. Ingelrammus del Freinei was found in Herefordshire in the Pipe Rolls of 1204 and one year later, Alicia de Fresnei was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Rutland in 1205. Ingelram del Freidnei, del Frednei was found in the Pipe Rolls for Herefordshire in 1205. In Cambridgeshire, William de Freiney was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1207 and Reginald de Freney was listed in the Feet of Fines for Rutland in 1244. 1

Early History of the Frayn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frayn research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1140, 1172, 1350, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1600, 1824 and 1838 are included under the topic Early Frayn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frayn Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Frayn has undergone many spelling variations, including Frayne, Freyne, Frene, Frenye, Freny, Frenney, Frenny, Frennes, Frenes, Frenye, Frain, Frayn, Fraine and many more.

Early Notables of the Frayn family

More information is included under the topic Early Frayn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Frayn family to Ireland

Some of the Frayn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frayn 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:

Frayn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Frank Frayn, (b. 1865), aged 17, Cornish gardener departing on 13th December 1882 aboard the ship "Crusader" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 22nd March 1883 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Frayn (post 1700) +

  • R. Mort Frayn, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Washington, 1960; Candidate for Mayor of Seattle, Washington, 1969 4
  • Rebecca Frayn, English documentary film maker, screenwriter and novelist
  • Michael Frayn FRSL (b. 1933), English playwright and novelist
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

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