Show ContentsFreeth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Freeth family

The surname Freeth was first found in Staffordshire at Fradley, a village and civil parish in Lichfield District. Fradley heath formed part of the extensive waste of Alrewas-Hay, but was inclosed about 1805. [1] The village dates back to the 12 century when it was first recorded as 'Frodeleye', or 'Frod's lea'. Alrewas and Fradley, was a large civil parish that was divided into the two new parishes of Alrewas and Fradley in 2009.

Early History of the Freeth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Freeth research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1167, 1214, 1463, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Freeth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freeth Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Friday, Fridaye, Freeday, Freyday, Feraday, Fareday, Fryeday, Farraday, Farady, Fridey, Faraday, Frieday, Fryday and many more.

Early Notables of the Freeth family

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


Australia Freeth migration to Australia +

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

Freeth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Freeth, (b. 1782), aged 45, English brass founder who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1833 [2]
  • Mr. Joseph Freeth, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [3]
  • Mr. John Freeth, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [4]
  • George Thomas Freeth, who arrived in Kangaroo Bay aboard the ship "Tam O'Shanter" in 1836 [5]
  • Mr. William Freeth, aged 34, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship "Bolton"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Freeth 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:

Freeth Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Charles Freeth, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 [6]
  • Louisa Freeth, aged 28, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Freeth (post 1700) +

  • George Freeth (1883-1919), American "Father of Modern Surfing", recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal
  • Evelyn Freeth, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Hawaii Territory, 1956 [7]
  • Thomas Freeth, English stained glass artist and art teacher in the mid twentieth century
  • Sir Evelyn Freeth (1846-1911), English civil servant, Deputy Controller, Legacy & Succession Duties, Ireland in 1884, Registrar of the Estate Duty Office at Somerset House (1902-1908)
  • John Freeth (1731-1808), known as Poet Freeth, an English innkeeper, poet and songwriter
  • Sir Gordon Freeth KBE (1914-2001), Australian politician, Member of the Australian Parliament for Forrest (1949-1969)
  • General Sir James Freeth KCB, KH (1786-1867), British Army officer, Quartermaster-General to the Forces (1851-1855)
  • Hubert Andrew Freeth (1912-1986), British portrait painter and etcher
  • Benjamin "Ben" Freeth MBE (b. 1971), British-born, Zimbabwean farmer and human rights activist
  • Rodger Freeth Ph.D., (1950-1993), New Zealand motor sport competitor
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 18th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/champion
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TAM O'SHANTER - 1836. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836TamOShanter.htm
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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